
Qass 

Book 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 



rf-v -« 1 r • O^ 



SKBTCH BOOK 



OF 



SUFFOLK, VA. 



ITS 



PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 



P'R(3M PHOTOGRAPHS BV PARKKR ^ HARRELL. SIFFOLK. 



BY X 

EDWARD POLLOCK, 

I'llilJSIIKK ()!• 

HISTORICAL AM) INDl'STRIAL GUIDE TO PETERSBIRG, VA. 

"SKETCH BOOK OF DAWILLE, VA.; 

ITS .MAMPACTIRES AND COMMERCE," Etc.. Etc. 



/ 
i'OR rSMOlTH, \.\.: X^'^V /_ 



i' 
PRI.\TI:D BV FISKI-: ^ pirdik. 

iSS6. 



f'ji^i 





Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year iSS6, 

By EDWARD POLLOCK, Portsmouth, Va., 

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D, C. 



PHEFAeei 



The compilation of this little volume has afforded ??ie 
unmixed pleasure^ inasmnch as it has been the means of 
laying open befo7'e me a new and intei'e sting page of I7r- 
ginia' s glorious history, and of gaining for me the acquaint- 
ance of a thriving, happy and virtuous community. 

The object of the work is to present to the outside world 
an accurate sketch of Suffolk as she appears to-day, together 
ci'ith a brief account of such events as, from time to ti??ie, 
have assisted in shaping her destiny, and such information 
7'elating to her trade and ifidustries as, in my judgment, will 
prove of ijiterest to the average reader. 

hi this I have eyideavored throughout to be strictly 
faithful to facts, many of which have been gleaned from the 
fles of the "'Suffolk Herald,'" to the editor of ivhich excellent 
7iewspaper, as to all other coadjutoi'S who have kindly given 
me their aid — ichether in the form of counsel, encourage- 
ment or material support — / now tender my sincere thanks. 

That the book may accomplish its desired purpose and 
prove abundantly instrumental in furthering the commercial 
and social interests of Suffolk and her eiiterprisiyig citizens, 
is the earnest hope of 

Their grateful servant, 

ED WARD POLL OCA', 

Suffolk, la., June yth, 1886. 



SCaFFOL^K 



1886. 



DESCRIPTIVE. 

THE TOWN OF SUFFOLK lies in Nansemond County, 
Virginia, of wliich it is the County Seat. It enjoys 
exceptional advantages as a business centre and distrib- 
uting point, being situated on the main lines of the Seaboard Sc 
Roanoke and the Norfolk & Western Railroads, and being itself 
the northern terminus of the Suffolk & Carolina and the Suffolk 
Lumber Company's narrow gauge lines, both of which j^jcnetrate 
the rich agricultural and timber lands for which this portion of 
Eastern Virginia and the adjoining counties in North Carolina 
have long been famous. Suffolk, moreover, is situated at the 
head of navigation on the Nansemond River, which is suffi- 
ciently deep at this point to admit \essels drawing tourtctii 
feet of water. 

Until comparatively recent years the chief trade of Suffolk 
consisted in tar, turpentine, shingles and staves, which were 
transported by canal from the neighboring Dismal Swamj), and 
re-shipped at the Suffolk whar\'es to the numerous markets ot 
the Atlantic coast, at which thev wctc formcrlv in brisk demand 



SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



At that period of her history, the Town lay principally on 
the lower land adjoining the river, but after the opening- of 
the railroads and the great fire of 1837, the business gradually 
sought a higher level, and its largest stores and handsomest 
residences are now a mile inland from its original site, and 
conveniently placed between the depots of the Seaboard & 
Roanoke and the Norfolk & Western Railroads, 

As seen from either of these lines, there is very little to 
indicate to the traveller the size, importance or beauty of the 
Town. It is, therefore, with no small surprise that the visitor, 
a few minutes after his arrival, finds himself in the midst of 
thriving industry and progressive prosperity, as demonstrated 
by busy streets, handsome stores, graceful churches, fine 
schools, elegant residences, active mills and factories, and other 
unmistakable evidences of commercial and social welfare. The 
population of Suffolk in 1856 was 1,200; in 1883, 1,963, and is 
now estimated at not less than 3,000. There are six churches, 
a fine Academy of Music, and four flourishing educational 
institutions in the Town, besides the public and several private 
schools. Two regular Steamboat Lines afford daily connec- 
tion with Norfolk and the Landings on Nansemond River. 

GEOGRAPHICAL. 

The County of Nansemond is 34 miles long by an average 
width of 12 miles. It is bounded on the North by Hampton 
Roads; on the East by Norfolk County, the Great Dismal 
Swamp and Lake Drummond, a portion of which is within its 
limits; on the West by Isle of Wight and Southampton Counties 
and on the South bv the boundarv line of North Carolina. 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 



The Town of Suffolk, which occupies a nearly central i)osition 
in the County, is distant from Portsmouth 17 miles, via the 
Seaboard & Roanoke Railroad; from Norfolk 23 miles, via 
the Norfolk (S: Western Railroad; from Petersburg-, 5<S miles, 
and from Richmond, 80 miles. 

The Suffolk Lumber Company's Railroad connects it with 




\VASHIN(;Tf)X SnrARK, I.OOKINC; EAST. 

Kittrell's Church, N. C, and the Suffolk cX: Carolina Rail- 
road, with Sunbui»y, N. C. Both the last named lines have 
extensions in cont(Mnj)lation. and will no (l()ul)t before long open 
up direct communication with the rivers and sounds of North 

C\'iro1in:\. Twcnt\'-si\ miles from Suffolk the Nanscjnond 



SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



Seaboard s Roanoke 



H.A.irjTetO.A.ZD 



SHORT LINE TO 



ijll pointy plorth and ^outj 



CONNECTS AT NORFOLK WITH RAIL AND WATER 

LINES FOR NORTHERN AND WESTERN POINTS, 

AND AT WELDON WITH 

SEABOARD AIR-LINE AND ATLANTIC COAST LINE. 

CONNECTS AT FRANKLIN WITH THE 

ALBEMARLE STEAM NAVIGATION COMPANY. 



Double Daily Passenger Service 



L. S. BAKER, Agent, L. T. MYERS, Supt. Trans., 

SUFFOLK. VA. PORTSMOUTH, VA. 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 



The Norfolk & Western Railroad 

THE GREAT TRUNK LINE 

BETWEEN THE 

ISrORXH JLINTD SOUTH 
QUICKEST AND MOST DIRECT ROUTE TO 

CHATTANOOGA, VICKSBURG, MOBILE, 

DECATUR, ATLANTA, INIONTGOMERY, 

NASHVILLE, BIRMINGHAM, NEW ORLEANS, 

AND TO ALL 

CALIFORNIA, TEXAS & TRANS-MISSISSIPPI POINI^S, 

VIA 

MEMPHIS OR NEW ORLEANS. 

PULLMAN PALACE SLEEPING CARS ON ALL NIGHT TRAINS. 



Tiirough Tickets on sale at all Coupon Offices. 
Freiglit received for all points South, and through Bills of 
Lading issued. 

CHAS. G. EDDY, A. POPE, W. B. BEVILL, 

Vice Piesidenf. deal Vcft. Agt. Gnil Tasn. S' Tki. A</(. 



10 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



River flows into Hampton Roads, at the confluence of the 
James and Ehzabeth Rivers. It will be seen, therefore, that 
Suffolk enjoys e\'ery conceivable facility, by land and water, 
for cheap and rapid transportation to every point in the United 
States, and consequently offers unequalled advantages for the 
establishment of industrial enterprises. 

SANITARY. 

The climate and situation of Suffolk are exceptionally fav- 
orable to health, as is shown by the low rate of mortality, which 
is estimated, after a close investigation of all available facts, at 
the low a\'erage of sixteen per one thousand inhabitants, per 
annum, as also by the longevity and generally robust appear- 
ance of the population. While some portions of tide-water 
Virginia are undoubtedly subject to malarious influences, owing 
to their low level and marshy surroundings, this charge cannot 
be brought, even remotely, against Suffolk, which is "built 
upon many hills," possesses a perfect system of natural drain- 
age, and — to use the words of an English traveller who wrote 
his impressions of the Town as early as 1784 — " Stands on a soil 
so very sandy that in every step in the street the sand comes above 
your ankles, which renders it extremely disagreeable. " It is 
almost superfluous to state here that the discomfort thus com- 
plained of has long since disappeared under the treatment of 
efficient town -surveyors. The station of the Norfolk & 
Western Railroad at this point is 46 feet higher than its station 
at Norfolk, or that of the Seaboard & Roanoke Railroad, at 
Portsmouth. The hills upon which the town is built yield 
excellent spring water in abundant quantities, and this supply 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. II 



will shortl}' be supplemented by a regular system of pipes from 
Lake Kilby, a mile distant, where Water Works are already 
in course of construction, as shown in one of our illustrations. 
In the matter of temperature Suffolk is also extremely fortu- 
nate, being near enough to the equator to escape severity of 
cold in winter, and not fiir enough removed from the ocean to 
suffer from excessive heat in summer. The fact that Suff(jlk 
has always been the home of largely attended educational 
establishments, with pupils from many States beyond Virginia's 
borders, is strong testimony in itself to the salubrious nature of 
her climate. Being almost exempt from the searching North- 
east winds, which are found so trying, even to the healthy, in 
some less favored localities, Suffolk offers an excellent sanato- 
rium for invalids during the winter months. 

AGRICULTURAL. 

The country by which Suffolk is surrounded is liberally 
watered, the middle and northern portions of the County being 
tra\ersed by the Nansemond River, and the southern and 
western portions, by the Hlackwater and other tributaries of the 
Chowan. The land is slightly undulating and the soil rich. 
especially along- the river "bottoms." The principal agricul- 
tural products of this district are corn, oats, w^heat, cotton and 
peanuts, the last named crop having to some extent superceded 
tobacco, which in former days was cultivated with fair success, 
and is still grown occasionally. The area of tin- C\)unt\- is 
398 1-5 square miles, or 254,<S42 acres, which has an average 
assessed value of $6.46 per acre. Enormous deposits of marl 
are found alonir the rix'cr bottoms and on the margin ot the 



12 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



James R Baker, 



DEALER IN 



DRY GOODS, 



Clothing, Hats, Shoes, 

CARPETS, 
RUGS, OIL CLOTHS, MATTINGS, &c. 

SPECIALTIES: 

Handsome Dress Goods, Fine Ready-Made Clothing, 
Ziegler's Fine Shoes, Gent's Furnishings, etc. 

STxffolls:, MSL. 

Orders toy IMIail promptly attended to. 



/ 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 



13 




14 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



Dismal Swamp, while the Swamp itself yields exhaustless 
quantities of juniper, cypress, gum, ash, maple and pine. 
Veeetation of all kinds is four to six weeks earlier here than in 
New Jersey, and our out-door crops, especially early fruits and 
vegetables, command the highest prices in the Northern 
markets. Farm lands, all through the district of which Suf- 
folk is the centre, show each year a steady increase in value, 
and the area under cultivation is rapidly spreading. 



HISTORICAL. 

TiS THE HISTORY OF SUFFOLK— like that of every 
fK other American Town — is inseparable, in its early pages, 
from that of the whole Continent, it will not be necessary, 
for the purposes of our modest Sketch Book, to inflict upon 
the intelligent reader the familiar story of the great navigators, 
Columbus, Cabot, Amadas, and the rest — not to mention the 
still more remote, and still less authentic Madoc — nor need we 
recount the virtues of the aboriginal tribes, to-wit: the Susque- 
hanocks, Pamaunkees and Chickahominies, with their noble 
chieftains, Winginia and Granganameo, Powhatan and Opechan- 
kanough- — distinguished alike for the euphony of their names 
and the simple amiability of their dispositions; still less desirable 
would be the vain attempt to clothe the touching narrative of 
Pocahontas with some new-found element of romance, or to en- 
large upon the thrilling adventures and " hair-breadth 'scapes" 
of the great original Anglo-American John Smith! Suffice it 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 



'5 



to say that these worthy people certainly lived and flourished, 
somewhere in this neicfliborhood, and at a period not many 
centuries prior to the birth of Suffolk's present " oldest inhabi- 
tant " — that is, if history and tradition are as trustworthy as 
some people seem to think. 




CorRT HorSK, Cr.ERK'S OFFICK AND JAIL. 

DIVISION OF VIR(;iNIA INTO SHIRKS. 

The hrst historical event in whicli the Sutfolk peojjle of to- 
da}' may rejisonably be supposed to feel any special interest, was 
the division of the Colony of Vir^'inla, in 1634, into ei^ht 
"Shires," with only one of which — hrst called Warros- 
(juyoake, afterwards Isle of Wimht — we ha\'e anythini^- to do. 
These shires were to be };(nerned like their Kni;lish [)r(jtotypes: 



i6 



SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



STEAMSHIP COMPANY'S LINES 




ROAISOKH, BRHAK^WAXER, WYAJ^JOKE, 

GUYATSOOXXE, SEJ^KCA, MAI^HAXXAIV. 

OI^D 00]?IINIOI*J, R-ICHItlOISD. 



Passen.^er Steamers leave NORFOLK for NEW YORK at 6 P. M., every Monday, 
Tuesday, Wednesdav. Thursday and Saturday, and leave NEW YORK for NOR- 
FOLK at 3 P. M. every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. 

P"OR RICHMOND— Steamers leave NORFOLK every Sunday, Wednesday and 
Friday Nights, arriving at RICHMOND next morning. 

Steamers NORTHAMPTON, Ll'RAY and ACCOMACK, sailing daily, except 
Sunday, run a regular morning and afternoon schedule between Norfolk, Old Point, 
Hampton, Newport's News, Smithfield, Nansemond River and Suffolk, and make tri- 
weekly trips to Cherrystone, Matthews, Poquosin and Ware Rivers. 

Steamers leave Norfolk for Cherrystone and Poquosin River every Monday, Wed- 
nesday and Friday A. M., and for Matthews and Ware River every Tuesday, Thurs- 
day and Saturday A. M. 

For Newberne and Washington, N. C, and Points on Neuse, Trent, Tar and Pam- 
lico Rivers— Steamers SHENANDOAH and NEWBERNE leave Elizabeth City, N.C., 
every Monday and Thursday, connecting with trains of the Norfolk Southern Railroad. 

For further information apply to 



JONES & BROTHEH, 

Af/cnf.s, Sufolk, ]\(. 



CULPEPER & TURNER, 

Agents, Xorfolk, Va. 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. I7 

BALTIMORj^SmM^AGKET COMPANY 

QUICKEST PASSENGER AND FREIGHT ROUTE 

i:etwei-:n 'imie 

ISrORXM AlSriD SOXJXM 




Passenger Steamers leave daily, Sundays excepted, from Portsmouth'at 

0.45 and Norfolk at 6.30 P. M., touching at Old Point. 

Close connection made at Baltimore with 

FAST EXPRESS FOR PHILADELPHIA AND NEW YORK, 

in ample time to connect with all Sound 

lines of steamers and all lines for Boston and the East. 

Close connection also made at Baltimore for ^Vashington and the West. 

CJOMITSrCS- SOXJTH 

Through BAY LINE EXPRESS from New York to Baltimore 

Leave New York from Dcshrosses and Courtlandt street ferries, trains 
connect with steamer at Canton. Steamers leave Baltimore from Union 
Dock at 7 P. M., and from Canton wharf at 8.45 P. M. 

For further infori^ation, apply to. 

L. W. THOMAS, Agent, 

1»€>1*XHM«ITXH, VA. 

i 



1 8 



SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



lieutenants were to be appointed, whose special duty it should 
be to keep a wary eye and a heavy hand upon the hostile 
Indians. Sheriffs, serg^eants, bailiffs and other officials were to 
be elected for the purposes of enforcing the law and administer- 
ing the local go\'ernment. 

NANSEMOND COUNTY SET APART. 

In the year 1639, five years after the establishment of War- 
rosquyoake as a shire, the latter was subdi^'ided into Counties 
one of which was named Upper Norfolk. This name was 
changed m 1645-6, by an act of the Assembly, to Nansimum 
which subsequently appears under a variety of spellings as 
Nandsamund, Nanzemund, Nansemum and Nansemund until 
finally it assumed its present form of Nansemond. Durino- a 
short penod-from 1657 to i66i-the original name of Upper 
Norfolk was resumed— possibly with a view to affordino- an 
opportunity for reconciling the differences of opinion as to^the 
correct orthography of the less simple appellation. The pop- 
ulation of the County in 1840 was: white, 4,858; slaves, 4,530 - 
free colored, 1,407; total, 10,795. In 1883 it had increased to 
15-903, of whom 7,728 were white and 8,175 colored 'The 
value of real estate in the County in the last named )'ear was 
estimated at $1,647,562.50, and of personal propertv, at $910,- 
437-50. There are now seventeen Post-offices in the County. 

THE DIVIDING LINE. 

As the Eastern portions of Virginia and Carolina became • 
gradually appropriated and settled, much and frequent contro- 
versy between the two local governments had resulted from the 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS iRADi: 



19 



fact that the dividini^' Hue between these two Colonies had nexer 
been very clearly defined. In order to remedy this e\il, the 
respective Ciovernors, with the consent of the Crown, appointed 
a joint commission to sur\ey and delimit a boundar}', which 
should finally settle the disputed points upon ecjuitable j^rinci- 




Ml 



• isT laMscoi'AL rm K 



])les. (Jn this Commission Virginia was rei)resented by Col. 
William Byrd, (of Westover), Richard Fitzwilliam and William 
Dandrid^e. The Carolina Commi.ssioners were Christoj)her 
Gale, John Lovewick, Kdward Mosely and William Little. 
These p^entlemen, with their sur\eyors, a rhaj)lain and a score 



-^ SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



^uffoll^ Militaifij flcademij 



SESSION 1886-1887 



Gpficers and Teachers 



JOSEPH KING, A. M., .' . . . . Pr.^^cipai, 

I^atiii, ]Sat«iral Science and Belles I^ettres. 

ROWLAND DOGGETT, A. M., . . , Associate 

matlieniatics, Chemistry and Kng^lish. 
MISS LIZZIE J, KING, W. F. I. 

Krencli, German and F:iocution. 

CAFIAIN GEORGE T. PARKER, C. S. A. 
• Drill Master. 

MRS. ROWLAND DOGGETT. 

Domestic Department. 
AXXE^JDIT^JG PHYSICIAI^S, 

DR. A. W. ELEY, . , DR. W. W. MURRAY 



Vatalo<fice^ sent au appUcatiooi. iSee- rraniisincce imc/rafiou) 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 



21 



H. W. BliADSHAW. JOHN A. OUM. r JOSEPH G. M^NKAL. 



Brad SHAW, Gum & Co. 

PLANING MILLS, 




MANUFACTUREILS OF AND DKALEllS IN 

ROUGH AND DRESSED LUMBER 

WINDOW AND DOOR FKAiMKS, URACIKKTS, 
MOULDINGS, &c. 

SPECIALTIES : 
STORE FRONTS AND STAIR WORK 

Suffolk, Ya. 



22 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



of attendants, met at Coratuck on March 5th, 1728, and pur- 
sued their labors until November 2 2d following when the Divid- 
ing Line, as now known, had been surveyed and mutually 
accepted. The complete story of this expedition, as told by 
Colonel Byrd in his JJesfover Manuscripts, abounds with inci- 
dent and anecdote, and will be found highly entertaining and 
instructive. For the purposes of this Sketch Book, how- 
ever, it is only necessary to refer to that portion of it which 
alludes to this neighborhood. The narrator mentions that after 
wandering about for some time in the Dismal Sw^amp, a por- 
tion of which lies in Nansemond County, they reached ' ' Col. 
Andrew Meade's, who li\'es upon Nansemond River." Here 
they were entertained with true old Virginian hospitality, (which 
believed it to be a duty alike to ' ' welcome the coming ' ' and to 
' ' speed the parting guest " ), and dispatched upon their journey 
with a plentiful supply of provisions. Colonel Byrd mentions 
that in their progress through the County they " passed no 
less than tvvo Quaker Meeting Houses," and quaintly adds: 
' ' That persuasion prevails much in the lower end of Nanse- 
mond County for want of ministers to pilot the people a decenter 
way to Heaven." The Dividing Line, to determine which 
this journey was undertaken, is the southern boundary of Nan- 
semond County, and separates it from North Carolina at a 
distance of 14 miles from the town of Suffolk. 

MUNICIPAL. - 

In May, 1742, while George the Second reigned in England 
and Governor Gooch administered the affairs of Colonial Vir- 
ginia at its ancient capital, Williamsburg. t]ie Legislature passed 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADI- 



an Act "to establish a town at Constance's Warehouse, on 
Nansemond River, to be called Suffolk!" The Town was more 
formally incorijorated by the (General Assembly in January, 
1808, and a Board of Trustees, havino- certain sj^ecified duties 
and powers, was authorized to be appointed. Subsequent lc\^- 
islation, amendatory of the charter, was had from lime to time 




Ki.si])i;.\"(T-: oj- w.M. n. .i<).\i:s. jr., i.S'j. 

until A])ril- 1st, 1858, when an Act was passed authorizing^ the 
election of a Mayor and Council for tlie Town of Sullolk. 
I'nder this Act the first Monday in May was apjiointed as the 
date of the annual election of a Mayor and live Councilmen. in 
whom were \'ested all the^^lsual powers, riju^hts, capacities and 
nri\-ile_i>es under the Code of X'ir^inia. A new cliartei- was 



24 



SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



MERRITT BRIGGS, 


LEE BRITT, 


Afstoi'iieil at Law 

1 xJ 


Attorney at Law 


SUFFOLK, VA. 


SUFFOLK, VA. 


Correspo7ide?it 
Hubbeir s Legal Directory. 

Collections a Specialty. 


COURTS : 

Nansemond, Isle of Wight 

and Southampton Counties, 

And United States District 
Court at Norfolk. 


G. H. CAUSEY, 


E. E. HOLLAND, 


Attorney at Law 


Attoi'iieil at Law 


COMMONWEALTH'S 


SUFFOLK, VA. 


ATrORNEY FOR IfANSE- 


COURTS : 


MOND COUNTY, 


Nansemond, Isle of Wight 
and Southampton Counties, 


SUFFOLK, VA. 


And United States Courts at 
Norfolk. 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 



25 



Cliartered Nov. 30, 1869. 



TtieFar'rgBi'^Banl^of Wan^eniond 




CAPITAL, $20,000. 



SURPLUS, $30,000 



President, JOHN R. COPELAND. Cashier, WM. H. JONES, Jr. 

DIRlCCrORi*: 

John R. Coi'Ki.axi), Thos. W. Smith. E. E. Holland. IMI. Kawlk.s, 
Jamp:.s R. liAKKK, Wm. H. .Tonks. .Ik. 



Transacts a (Icncml Banking lousiness. Collections made on all accessi- 
ble points at lowest rates. Business accounts invitcij and 
interest allowed on time deposits. 



26 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



granted to the Town in March, 1872, enlarging its boundaries 
and vesting additional powers in its Council, who were author- 
ized to elect annually a Town Sergeant, Clerk, Assessor, 
Treasurer, Overseer of the Poor and Street Commissioner. 
This charter was amended in March, 1875, and again in Feb- 
ruary, 1879, when the boundaries of the Town were revised 
and enlarged, and various other supplementary Acts were 
passed, as occasion required, looking to the furtherance of Suf- 
folk's commercial and social interests and the happiness and 
prosperity of her people. 

THE BURNING OF SUFFOLK BY THE BRmSH. 

In his "Historical Collections of Virginia," Mr. Howe thus 
mentions this calamity : 

" In the year 1779, Sir Henry Clinton projected a plan to 
humble the pride and destroy-the resources of Virginia. He sent 
a powerful fleet, which anchored in Hampton Roads, landed a 
heavy force under Gen. Matthews, which took possession of 
Portsmouth and Norfolk, and committed extensive devastations. 
It was on this expedition. May 13th, that Suffolk was burnt, the 
account of which, here given, is from Girar-din. 

' ' ' No sooner was intelligence received of the arrival of the 
British in Hampton Roads, than the Militia of Nansemond 
County were called to arms. Suffolk was the place of general 
rendez-vous. About two hundred men assembled there, with- 
such weapons as they could procure from their own homes. 
Few of them had muskets, and still fewer ammunition. This, 
however, they obtained from Captain Bright, who commanded 
the letter- of- marque, the brig Mars. Bright also furnished. 



ITS PEOl'LE AND ITS TRADi:. 



27 



two pieces of ordnance, which were immediately mounted 
upon the carriages of carts. The whole of this little army, 
headed by Col. Willis Riddick, proceeded about eight miles 
on the Norfolk Road, and, on the evening- of the nth of May, 
encamped in a large uncultixated field, in front of Capt. James 
Murdaugh's house. 






^li^iy^^-^rt-'^ 




•sMiTirs hlock;," thi-: prophrtv oi-' col. thos. \v. smi rii. 

" 'Before this nioxement, three well-mounted young Virgin- 
ians, Josiah I^iddick, Thomas (iranbury and Thomas Brittle, 
had been disjxitched to reconnoitre the eneniv. They were 
surprised and made i)risoners just below Hall's Mills, in Nor- 
folk County and conxeyed to New V<^rk. where they remained 
for eighteen months in a state of capti\itv. Thus did the party 



28 _ SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 

M. F. Lloyd, 

BOTTLER OF THE CELEBRATED ROBERT PORTNER 
BREWING CO.'S. 

VIENNA. CABINET AND TIVOLI BEER. 

AGENT FOR 

Cartel''^ (JiiigEi' i|Ie, ^oda and ^aii^aparilla. 

DEALER IN 

FINE FAMILY GROCERIES, LIQUORS, TOBACCO 

AND CIGARS, 

SUFFOLK, VA. 

s» ■ — ■ . . — — ■ 

RiDDiCK & Baker, 

DEALERS IN 

Stoves, Tinware, Crockery, 

AND HOUSE FURNISHING GOODS. 

ROOFING, GUTTERING AND SPOUTING DONE 

PROMPTLY, AND BY FIRST-CLASS 

WORKMEN. 

SUFFOLiK, VA. 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 



29 



HALL & HOLT 




Furniture Sealers d Undertaler!! 

SUFFOLK, VA. 



SPECIAL ATTENTION GIVEN TO UNDERTAKING fN ALL 

ITS BRANCHES, 

Orders by mail or telegraph promptly attended to. 



30 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 

under Col. Riddick' continue in entire ignorance of the num- 
bers and motions of the enemy. 

' ' ' To a tavern, about a mile below the encampment of the 
militia, Captains King and Davis had repaired for the night. 
In front of this tavern was a lane, with draw-bars at its extremity. 
These were soon heard to rattle; alarmed at this noise, King 
and Davis seized their muskets and flew to the door. King 
leaped out and fired to give the alarm. The British platoon 
discharged and shot Davis through the heart. King, well 
acquainted with the country, soon reached the Virginian camp 
and informed his comrades of approaching hostility. The vio- 
lence of the wind, blowing in an unfavorable direction, had 
prevented them from hearing the report even of the British 
musketry, discharged so near them. Col. Willis Riddick, not 
suspecting the approach of the foe, had retired to his own 
house. The command, therefore, devolved upon Colonel 
Edward Riddick. The militia retraced their steps to Suffolk, 
which thev reached before the dawn. Two officers, mounted 
on fleet horses, were then dispatched to ascertain the situation 
and force of the enemy. Four miles below Suffolk they halted, 
and immediately after sunrise, in the entrance of a lane about 
one-quarter of a mile long, had a full view of the advancing 
foe, and distinctly counted 600 infantry. They rode back in 
full speed, and, upon calling the militia to arms, about one hun- 
dred only obeyed the call. The others had dispersed. A 
retreat became una\'oidable — every man was admonished to 
take care of himself Most of the inhabitants had already left 
their homes. Few could save their effects. Such as delayed 
their flight in attempting to secure their property, were taken 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 



.V 



prisoners. Ruthless devastation attended the British. Thex- 
set fire to the town and nearly the whole was eonsumed. Sev- 
eral hundred barrels of tar, pitch, turpentine and rum had been 
deposited on lots contiguous to the wharves. The heads of 
the barrels being' knocked out, and their contents, which flowed 
in a commingled mass, catching the blaze, descended to the 
ri\er, like torrents of burnin": Ia\a. As the wind blew from 




LAKI-: KII.P.V. Sll()\\l.\(. I:\(1IXF. Ilol SI-. ()! .\i;\\ WATI-.R WOkKS. 

the wharves with great \h)lence, these substances, with diffi- 
culty soluble with water, raj)idly fl(Xited to the oj)posite shore 
in a splendid state of conflagration, which they communicated 
to the thick and decaying herbage of an e.\tensi\'c marsh, the 

growth of the preceding vear. This iniinciisi' sheet of tire, 
added to the vast columns of undulating flames which ascended 
fr(.)m the burning houses ol the town — the explosion, at 



32 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 

R. L. BREWER. R. I>. BREWER, JR. 

R. L. BREWER & SON, 

/-iucccssors to R. L. BREWER, 

Dealers in Fine Watches and Rich Jewelry 

WASHINGTON SQUARE, SUFFOLK, VA. 

iriNE REPAIJRING PROMPTLY EXECUTED. 

A. S. ELEY, SUFFOLK, VA. 

DEAl-ER IN 

Drugs, Paints, Oils, Glass, Brushes, 

Fertilizers, Plows, Farm Tools and Hardware of all kinds. 

BUILDING MATERIALS A SPECIALTY. 
Window Saslies, Blinds, Doors, Brackets, mouldings, &c. 

IvO'WHSX KICHIGHTS-QUICK XBLAI^iSIT. 



W. B. FERGUSON, 

In Meats, Flour, Fish, Hay, Grain Butter Cheese, &c. 

All Goods Guaranteed of Quality Represented. SUFFOLK, VA. 

Representing New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati. 

EXCHANGE HOTEL, 

E. S. RIDDICK, 

Cor. Kiddick and Washington Streets, - - SUPPOLK, VA. 

TERMS, $2 PER DAY. 

MOST CENTRALLY LOCATED. LARGE SAMPLE ROOM 
FOR COMMERCIAL TRAVELERS. 

CHOICE CIGARS AND CIGARETTES CAN BE FOUND IN THE OFFICE. 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 



33 



GEO. W. NURNEY, 

SALE, EXCHANGE & 




LiYERY Stables 

KIT.BV STKKBT, 

SUFFOLK^ VA. 



34 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



intervals of the gunpowder In the magazines — the consequent 
projection through the air of large pieces of ignited timber, 
which flew, like meteors, to an astonishng distance — all con- 
tributed to form a collective scene of horror and sublimity 
such as could not be viewed without emotions not to be 
described/ " 

INCIDENT OF 1812. 

In connection with the above it may be appropriate to 
relate here how the good people of the Town were once terri- 
bly agitated by what turned out to be a very simple and harm- 
less event. _, 

During the war with England in 1812, great uneasiness 
was felt by the inhabitants of Suflblk lest the British should 
send small boats up the river from their ships and burn the 
Town again. In the midst of their fears and suspense, and 
while an old itinerant preacher named Theophilus Gates was 
holding a revival meeting at the old church, the alarm came 
one night that the enemy's barges were coming up the stream 
and would soon reach the wharves. A panic seized the whole 
community and Brother Gates's meeting was brought to an 
abrupt conclusion. The people fled in all directions and gen- 
eral consternation prevailed. In a few hours, however, it 
was ascertained to be a false alarm, based upon the fact that a 
few oyster boats were bringing up a supply of bivalves to the 
popular establishment of Jack Walker, a colored restaurateur, 
the fame of whose excellent oysters and ginger cakes had 
secured for him a lucrative business throughout the surround- 
ing country. 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 



35 



"BENN'S CHURCH." 

This venerable structure, although, strictly speaking, it 
does not belong to this town or county, since the separation of 
the latter from Isle of Wight, is nevertheless so closely allied 
to us by tradition and so endeared to us by its ancient associa- 
tions with our ancestors, that it has been selected as a fitting 
illustration for our Sketch Book, being one of the most hal- 




lowed monuments in Virginia, and still standing within the 
limits of the original shire of which Nansemond formed a ])or- 
tion prior to 1 639. 

Mr. Howe thus describes it in his " Historical Collections 
of Virginia:" (pub. i<S56. ) 



36 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



S. D. CARR. T. C. SYKES. 

SAM'L D. CARR & CO. 



WHOLESALE AND RETAIL 

ok^ellei'^ and ptationEf^ 



AND DEALERS IN 



FANCY GOODS, PIANOS AND ORGANS. 

ELANK BOOKS, SCRAP BOOKS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, 

AUTOGRAPH ALBUMS, PHOTOGRAPH 

ALBUMS. 

ARX QOODS A SPECIALTY. 

PICTURE FRAMES MADE TO ORDER. 

ORDERS BY MAIL WILL RECEIVE PROMPT ATTENTION, 

Merchants* Orders Filled at New York Prices. 

Washington Square, Under Academy of Music, 

SUFFOLK, VA, 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 



37 




FRANK WEIDENFELD, 



PRACTICAL 



Watclimal^Bi' and JeWelei' 

WASHINGTON SQUARE, 
SUKKOLK, VA. 



Fine Watches, Clocks, Jewelry, Silverware 

Spectacles ami Eyeglasses accurately fitted by aid 

of Spencer s Opfhalmoscopic Test JjCHs^'s. 
Repairing and KiijfraviiiK a *»pecialt> 



MRS. R. S. ELAIVI'S 

FIRST CLASS 

BOARDING HOUSE 

GOOD ACCOMMODATIONS AT REASONABLE RATES 



MAIN ST., near BUSINESS CENTRE, 

S\iffoll5., Ya.. 



38 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



'' Within an hour's ride from Smithfield, near the road to 
Suffolk, in the depths of the forest stands an ancient church in 
ruins. It is ahke an object of interest from its secluded situa- 
tion and its great antiquity. We have before us a communica- 
tion from a highly respectable gentleman of this vicinity, which 
gives strong evidence that it was built in the reign of -Charles I, 
between the years of 1630 and 1635. Tradition, too, states 
that it was the second church erected in Virginia. The brick, 
lime and timber were imported from England. The timber is 
English oak and was framed before shipment. The whole 
structure was built in the most substantial manner; and, even 
now, the wood-work, where not exposed to rain, is perfectly 
sound, and the mortar sufficiently hard to strike fire when in 
collision with steel. The structure is of brick, has a lofty 
tower, and is in good preservation. Its walls are overrun with 
a delicate net-work of vines. 

"In its day it was a splendid edifice. One window, of 
about 25 feet in height, was composed of painted glass, repre- 
senting scriptural subjects. It was probably abandoned about 
the time of the American Revolution, when the Episcopal 
Church, for a time, became nearly extinct in Virginia. Within 
the last twenty-five years it has been temporarily occupied by 
a sect called O'Kellyites. There is a project, which may be 
carried into effect, to repair it. If successful, generations yet 
unborn will meet within its time-hallowed walls, where, even 
now, more than two centuries have elapsed since their fore- 
fathers first raised the hymn of praise to the Living God." 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 39 

EARLY SUFFOLK ENTERPRISE. 

The following extracts from a ' ' Narrative of a Voyage to 
the West Indias, for the Purpose of Attempting the Establish- 
ment of an Ice Market in the Island of Jamaica," written at 
Kingston, Jamaica, October 17th, 1801, by Dr. Robert H. 
Fisher, a resident of Suffolk, will no doubt be read with inter- 
est and sympathy by the enterprising Suffolkites of to-day. 
The valuable MS has kindly been placed at the disposal of the 
author by Dr. Fisher's grandnephew and sole surviving rela- 
tive, Mr. Joseph P. Webb, of this Town: 

"A large ice-house was built at Suffolk, in Virginia, by 
Mr. Thomas Swepson, Dr. Richard H. Bradford and myself in 
1800, and filled with ice in the ensuing winter. In 1801 a con- 
siderable quantity of ice was sent therefrom and sold by retail 
at Noriblk, and, the business being perfectly novel in that part 
of the country, it excited much conversation, in the course of 
which it was often suggested that if a cargo of that article 
could be sent to the West Indias, it would meet with a \'ery 
welcome recej^tion and ready sale. My own reflections on the 
subject led me to much more extensive speculations. I thought 
that if, in some of the large towns in the West Indias, a maga- 
zine could be so constructed as to preserve ice for some length 
of time, and kept constantly supplied from the northern parts 
of the United States, so as to form a regular and permanent 
market, it could not fail of becoming an imjiortant and a lucra- 
tive branch of business. My imagination led me to the forma- 
tion of a i)]an of an association, which, after fixing at one 
point, and obtaining exclusive legal privileges, might extend to 
other |)oints, and nltimatelv establish a now and oxtonsne 



40 



SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



E. TATTERS 



SEflERAL COflTRAGTOR 

FOR 

ALL KINDS OF BRICK WORK ^ 



AND 



MANUFACTURER OF BRICKS 

SUFFOLK, VA. 

(Associated with GEO. 0. MOSER, ARCHITECT, Norfolk, Va.) 



Orders from a distance solicited, and prompt attention given 

thereto. 

PLiNS, SPECIFICATIONS AND ESTIMATES 

furnished on application. 

(See Engravings of James R. Baker's Store and E. Tatterson's 

Residence on pages 13 and 43 ; Geo. C. Moser, 

Architect; E. Tatterson, Contractor.) 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 



41 



H. T. ARTMAN. 



T. W. ARTMAN. 



H. T. ARTMAN & SON, 

MANUFACTURERS OF AND DEALERS IN 




Carts, Harness, &c. 

Also a full stock of 

IRON AND CARRIAGE MATERIAL 

Always on hand at the Lowest Prices. Correspondence Soli- 
cited. Address, 

H. T. ARTMAN S SON, 

SUFFOLK, VA. 



42 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



branch of trade between the United States and the whole of the 
West India Islands. >i< ^ >K ^i< ^ 

' ' Had I possessed funds of my own competent to the car- 
rying of the enterprise into execution, I should have embarked 
in it on my own bottom, without any hesitation; but, my 
finances being low, I proposed to form a Company who should 
raise the necessary sum by subscription. Propositions were 
made to a number of my friends in Suffolk and its vicinity, 
who were pleased, more probably by the novelty than the 
plausibility of the scheme; and a sum which was judged ade- 
quate to lay the first foundation of the establishment was imme- 
diately subscribed. The subscribers having incorporated 
themselves under the firm of " The Jamaica Ice Company," a 
general meeting was held on the ist day of August, 1801, and 
the following compact of association entered into and signed by 
the Company." ^ ^ ^l< ^< :^ 

Here follows a copy of the constitution which bears the 
following signatures: Robert Jordan, Thos. Swepson, Mathias 
Jones, Robert H. Fisher, W. Fisher, W. Jordan, Edward 
Allen, Joseph Hattersley, Richard H. Bradford, Richard W. 
Byrd, Rich. Yarbrough, John C. Cohoon, John M. Cowling, 
James Riddick, Wm. M. Poole, (Sec'y). John Barber, D. 
Southall. Teste: Elisha L. Ballard, John Norfleet. Many of 
these names are still found among the most highly esteemed of 
Suffolk's present inhabitants. Robert H. Fisher, the writer 
of the narrative, was appointed the agent and general manager 
of the Company, with instructions to proceed immediately to 
Jamaica and commence the business of the concern. 

"Having received the first requisition of $2,000, I left 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 



43 



Suffolk on the 4th day of August and arrived at Norfolk the 
same day. My friend Harrison Almand had engaged a passage 
for me on board a ship bound to Kingston, and had procured 
for me a number of letters of introduction to persons residing 
at that place and Port Royal. I had been advised to lay out 
the money I had in sterling bills of exchange, and I accord- 
ingly purchased one for ^437.10.0, at 124 pr. cent., drawn in 




Ri:SlDi:\CE OF 1-:. TATl l.US().\, KSO. 

my favour by Conway Whittle on John Kirwan t<: Sons, of 
London. 

" Every arrangement being made for my enterprise, I left 
Norfolk early in the morning of the 7th of August, 1801, and 
proceeded in a pilot boat to Hampton Roads, where I joined 
the ship in which I had engaged a passage, and which, as soon 
as I got on board, weighed anchor and j:>ut to sea." * 



* 



44 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



R. E. JONES. W. H. JONES, JR. 

Cashier Farmers Bank. 

OMEg \ BROTHER, 



u 



Wholesale and Ketail Dealers in 



SHIP STUFF, 



Ajricultuiial Lime, \ \ tnu-T[^$ 



&c.. &c. 



AGENTS OF THE 

OLD DOMINION STEAMSHIP COMPANY. 

SUFFOLK, VA. 



46 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 

After a most interesting account of the voyage, which 
occupied nearly five weeks, the narrator describes his arrival at 
Kingston, and thus proceeds: 

' ' On the following day I delivered several of my intro- 
ductory letters, but the reception I met with from the gentle- 
men to whom they were addressed was not only cool but repul- 
sive. I was stared at with a countenance which I thought 
indicated astonishment, mixed with contempt and pity. One 
of them burst out a-laughing in my face, and it was some time 
before he could compose himself sufficiently to hear what I had 
to say in vindication of my scheme. Suspecting they might 
think I was in want of pecuniary aid, I took care to inform 
them that I was in possession of funds fully adequate to carry 
my plan into execution; but although I used every argument I 
could think of to convince them of both the practicability and 
utility of my scheme, it was discouraged by every individual to 
whom I made it known. Among the variety of objections 
that were made to it I shall mention the following only: — That 
ice was an article which they had never known the want of, 
had hitherto done very well without and could do as well with- 
out hereafter; that it was, at best, a bare luxury, and would 
produce an expense without affording an adequate benefit; that 
in a climate so hot as theirs its use would probably be produc- 
tive of effects generally pernicious and often fatal; that at 
present there was an unusual scarcity of money; ^ * * 
that silver having lately been in great demand in England, 
where it was wanted for the East India trade, almost all the 
money had been drained out of the West Indias, in conse- 
quence of which trade had suffered a general depression; 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 47 

almost every one was in debt without possessing the means of 
making" payment; that lawsuits and distraints were common 
l)eyond any former period; and that if ice was so great a lux- 
ury as I represented it to be, that very circumstance was the 
greatest of all the objections to its introduction, since many 
persons would be enticed to appropriate that money to the 
purchase of it which ought to be appropriated to the payment 
of their debts." '^ ^ * * * 

This reception naturally discouraged the trader and would- 
be benefactor, who, however, with true Suffolk pluck, was 
determined to exhaust every possible chance of success before 
acknowledging himself beaten and abandoning his enterprise. 
He advertised his scheme in two newspapers, and asked intend- 
ing patrons to enter their names in books pro\'ided for the 
purpose, and state the amount of ice they would require per 
day or week. But several days elapsed and no response had 
been made, which settled the question so far as the establish- 
ment of the ice trade in Jamaica was concerned, and decided 
its projector to return home with all convenient speed. But 
here another difficulty arose. He had expended all his cash 
and found it impossible to immediately convert his sterling bill 
of exchange into currency, being a stranger in a strange land. 
Owing to the drain of silver, before alluded to, bills of this 
kind could hardly be disposed of at all, except when packets 
were about to sail for I'^ngland; and it hap]jened unfortunately 
that this dilemma occurred shortly after the September boat 
had sailed, and it would be nearly a month before another left. 
The narrator determined therefore to await events with such 
patience as he could control, and to employ the tedious interim 



48 



SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



WILBUR J. KILBY, 

Attorney at Law 



AND 



Notary Public, 



SUFFOLK, VA. 



ROBERT R.PRENTIS, 

Attioriqefl at Law 

SUFFOLK, VA. 

COURTS : 

Nansemond, Isle of Wight 

and Southampton Counties, 

And United States Courts 

at Norfolk. 



JOHN B. PINNER, 

ATTOpy 

AND 

dOUM^ELLOI^ATLAW 

SUFFOLK, VA. 

COURTS : 

Nansemond, Isle of Wight 
and Southampton Counties. 



RICH'D H. RAWLES, 

Attorney at Law 

SUFFOLK, VA. 

COURTS : 

Nansemond, Isle of Wight 

and Southampton Counties, 

and United States District 

Court at Norfolk, Va. 



ITS PEOPLK AND ITS TRADE. 



49 



KistabliHlied 1873. 



Suffolk Herald 



















.5 



■^ 



NEWSPAPER AND JOB PRINTING 



ESTABLISHMENT. 



J. E. BOOKER, Editor and Publisher. 



SUFFOLK, VA. 



50 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 

in exploring the island and in obser\dng the peculiarities of its 
inhabitants. The result of tliis wise resolve is to be seen in, 
the elaborate and deeply scientific disquisitians to which the 
remainder of the interesting MS is chiefly devoted^ and which 
is well worthy of publication in a much more dignified form 
than this modest volume offers. It need only be added here 
that the enterprising ' ' former resident ' ' met with numerous 
adventures and misadventures, first in Jamaica and afterwards 
at Havana, including forcible detention for several weeks at the 
latter place, until December 26th, 1801, when he re-embarked 
on a homeward-bound schooner aiid landed at Norfolk in. due 
course. 

LA FAYETTE'S VISIT. 

The most notable event of the year 1826 was the visit of 
the Marquis de La Fayette. In consequence of the conspicu- 
ous part he had played in the history of Virginia during the 
Revolution, the Marquis had always been an object of affec- 
tionate interest to its people, and the reception accorded ' ' the 
hero af two worlds " was a perfect ovation. To liim,, perhaps, 
more than to any other human being, were the American Col- 
onies indebted far their success in securing independence. He 
was descended from an ancient and noble family of France, and 
was married at the age of 16 to a lady still yaunger than him- 
self He was not quite 20 years old when he received the rank 
of Major General in the LInited States Ai-my. His services to 
this country, however, are matters of natio-nal history,, and 
need not be recounted here. In 1824 — 47 yeaiis after the date 
of his first landing onAmerican soil as the friend and ally of the 
struggling Colonies — Congress in\nted liim to make aiiotker 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 51 



\isit to the United States. In obedience to this wish he 
embarked with his son and secretary for New York, wh'ere he 
landed on August 15th of that year. He visited, in succession, 
each of the 24 States and all the principal cities. In 1826 he 
accepted an in\'itation to visit Suffolk, and his arrival here was 
attended with all the " pomp and circumstance" of a triuni])hal 
entry. All the vehicles in the neighborhood were in demand, 
and many of the most prominent citizens turned out to meet 
him at old Tony Pugh's, 9 miles below the town. The 
Columbians, under Capt. Francis D. Charlton, received him 
at the head of Main Street, while the people followed the pro- 
cession, en massL\ to the Castle Inn. Here the noble guest was 
asked how he wished to recei\'e the Company, and replied 
promj^tly that he would like to shake every man by the hand. 
After this kindly wish had been gratified, Captain John C. 
Cohoon, who was Sheriff of the County and master of the 
ceremonies on this occasion, presented the citizens by name to 
the Marquis, who shook hands with all and expressed his 
])leasure at the cordiality of the reception accorded him. That 
niglit there was high festivity in Suffolk, at the Court House 
and the hotels, and on the following morning the Marquis left 
for Murfree.sboro, N. C, accompanied b\' the l)lessings and 
hearty good wishes of our ])eople. 

LAKH DRl'MMOND. 

This body of water, the j)opular resort of sportsmen from 
all ])arts of the country, lies within tlic limits of the Dismal 
Swamp, and extends a short distance into Nansemond Count\ , 
aV)ont ten miles from Suffolk. Its borrlers abound in dec-r 



52 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



Cliarterecl 1881. 

Suffolk Female Institute 

FOR 

YOUNG LADIES AND LITTLE GIRLS, 



Board and Literary I'uition, $l6o pep year. 



The Charter authorizes the Faculty to confer all the regular 
Collegiate Degrees. 

The Seventeenth Annual Session opens SEPTEMBER 
8th, 1886, and closes second Wednesday in June, 1887. 

Students received at any time, but are ad\'ised to enter at 
the beginning of a term. 

Suffolk is one of the healthiest and most accessible Towns 
in Virginia. 

The Corps of Teachers is efficient and experienced. The 
home training, moral and attractive. Fine advantages in 
Music, Art and Languages, at moderate rates. 

For Catalogue apply to — 

MISSES FINNEY, 

See Illustration on pcigeSi) Bqx 1 46, SUFFOLK, VA. 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 



53 



G. & C. MERRIAM & CO., Publishers, 




Springfield, Mass. 



54 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



bears, wild turkeys, lynxes and other objects of the hunter's 
delight. The Lake, says tradition, was first named Drum- 
mond's Pond, after the discoverer, who, wandering through 
the Swamp in search of game, came upon this sheet of water, 
and, by following its margin, managed to find his way into the 
open country, while his two comrades, less fortunate than he, 
were lost and never again heard of 

During his visit to Norfolk in 1804, Erin's sweetest poet, 
Tom Moore, of melodious memory, wrote the following lines, 
which, although familiar to most readers, will bear repetition in 
Suffolk's Sketch Book, by reason of their own intrinsic 
beauty as well as of their intimate association with this neigh- 
borhood. 

A BALLAD. 



The Lake of the Dismal Swamp. 



Written at Norfolk:, in Virginia 

"They tell of a young man who lost his mind upon .the death of a girl he loved, 
and who, suddenly disappearing from his friends, was never afterwards heard of. As 
he had frequently said in his ravings that the girl was not dead, but gone to the 
Dismal Swamp, it is supposed he had wandered into that dreary wilderness and had 
died of hunger, or been lost in some of its dreadful morasses." — Anon. 
" La poesie a ses monstres comme la nature " — 

— D'Alembf.rt. 
" They made her a grave too cold and damp 
For a soul so warm and true ; 
And .she's gone to the Lake of the Dismal Swamp, 
Where, all night long, by a fire-fly lamp. 
She paddles her white canoe. 

" And her fire-fly lamp I soon shall see, 

And her paddle I soon shall hear ; 
Long and loving our life shall be. 
And I'll hide the maid in a cypress-tree, 

When the footstep of Death is near '. " 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 55 



Away to the Dismal Swamp he. speeds— 

His path was rugged and sore, 
Through tangled juniper, beds of reeds. 
Through many a fen where the serpent feeds. 

And man never trod before ! 

And when on the earth he sank to sleep, 

If -slumber Tjis eyelids knew. 
He lay where the deadly vine doth weep 
Its venomous tear and nightly steep 

The flesh with blistering dew! 

And near him the she-wolf stirr'd the brake. 
And the copper-snake breathed in his ear, 

Till he starting cried, from his dream awake, 

" Oh ! when shall I see the dusky Lake, 
And the white canoe of my dear ? " 

He saw the Lake, and a meteor hriglit 

Quick o'er its surface play'd— 
" Welcome," he said, " my dear one's light ! '" 
And the dim shore echoed for many a night 

The name of the death-cold maid! 

Till he holiow'd a boat of the birchen l)ark. 

Which carried him off from shore ; 
Far be foUow'd the meteor spark. 
The wind was high and the clouds were dark. 

And the boat rcturn'd no more ! 

I'.ut oft, from the Indian hunter's iami>. 

This lover and maid so true 
Are seen at the hour of midnight damp. 
To ( ri.ss the Lake by a fire-fly lamp, 

And paddle tiieir white canoe. 

From "time immemorial" this secluded and romantic 
pool has been a lavorite resort for summer excursionists. In 
the "olden days" the tri]) from Suffolk was usually made by 
water, and the ])lace of rcndez-vous and embarkation was the 
canal bridge, al>out a couple of miles down the Norfolk Road. 
Here the ]->leasuro seekers would take j^assa.oc oji board a loni^ 



56 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



VALUABLE REAL ESTATE 

Those who want good Building Lots, nicely located in the 

Town of SutTolk, on easy terms, will find it to their 

interest to call on or correspond with 

O". T. INrXJR.IVrES^S'. 

Several Good Houses and Lots for sale in Suffolk, and se\'eral 
small farms in the county for sale. 

Apply to J. T. NURNEY, Suffolk, Va. 

WHOLESALE OYSTER PACKERS. 

J. T. NURNEY & CO. 

SUFFOLK, VA. 

Will supply the trade with best Nansemond River Oysters. 
Orders solicited and satisfaction guaranteed, 

THE 

guffoll^ BvicX ]\^ariufact:uping 

COIVIPANY 

Are manufacturing a first-class Building Brick. Send in vour 
orders and they will receive prompt attention. 

Address : J. T. NURNEY, Superintendent, Sufiblk, \'a. 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 



57 



Cliartered 1872. 



SUFFOLK COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE 

SUFFOLK, VA. 




Preparatory. Practical or Finishing 

— IN — 

dla^^ic^, IVjathematic^, ^cience^ and the Fine i^r^t^ 

ADEQUATE FACULTY. 

Discipline. — Self-acting- under Parental and Christian 
Direction. Cliarackr is primary, Conduct is resultant. 

Domes'Ik; ARKANCiEMENTs. — Economical, substantial, 
home-like. 

Terms. — Reasonable. Both sexes admitted. 

.Session begins middle of .September and entls the follow- 
ing June. PV)r Catalogues and other information, address 

PROF. P J. KERNODLE, A. M., Principal. 



$8 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



shingle-lighter, covered with canvas, resembling an extended 
wagon. This boat would carry 20 or 30 passengers very con- 
veniently, and was propelled by two negro men walking along 
the bank and pushing with poles at each end. With good 
weather these excursions were delightful, and at the present time 
xdsitors come from all parts of the country, during the summer 
and fall, to enjoy the tishing, shooting and hunting which Lake 
Drummond and its vicinity afford in perfection. The Lake is 
nearly round and about twenty miles in circumference. There 
are of course many theories as to its origin, the most plausible 
of which, perhaps, is that during some extensi\'e fire in the 
Swamp, this great basin was burned out, and thus prepared to 
become a permanent reservoir for the overflow water of the 
surrounding pjarsh. 

NAT TURNER'S INSURRECTION. 

In the year 1.831 occurred one of those startling incidents 
which are calculated to terrify the stoutest hearts and to leave 
an indelible impression upon the minds and nerves of a whole 
community. In the neighbouring County of Southampton 
had been brooding, unsuspected, a most insidious and power- ' 
ful enemy to society, which suddenly revealed its existence 
under circumstances of unparalleled horror and atrocity. Under 
cover of night, and without a note of warning, the negro 
insurrection, under Nat Turner, which was intended to involve 
the whole slave population of the South, broke out near the 
village of Jerusalem. Turner inaugurated his fiendish work by 
the butchery of his master's family and the wdiite residents of 
the adjoining plantations. The news of this horrible deed 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 



59 



spread like wild-lire from end to end of Virginia, and the dis- 
tricts in which the presence of a prep(3nderating" slave po])ula- 
tion would seem to justify the fears of midnight massacre were 
thrown into a state of almost helpless panic. In Suffolk the 
most intense excitement prevailed, and the people hastily pre- 
pared to secure themsehes, and to render such succor as could 
be spared to the scattered white j^opulation of the rural dis- 




Sri-T'OLK II, MALI-: INSriTlTI'. Sec pai^v .SJ. 

tricts, in the event of a general uprising on the ])art of the 
slaves. But fortunately the insurgents were neither well armed 
nor well disciplined, and the insurrection was suddenly crushed 
whj^ one of llie miscreants was killed with a charge of scjuirrel- 
shot, by a planter whose premises were attacked. A few weeks 
later. Nat Turner, the desperate author of the riot, was cap- 
tured, and in due course tried, conxicted and hanoed. 



6o 



SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



JOHN 

ATTOI^WEY 

AND 

dOUWgELLOpTLAW 

SUFFOLK. VA. 

Does a General Law Prac- 
tice in the Counties of Nan- 
semond, Isle of Wight and 
Southampton. 

SPECIAL ATTENTION TO COLLECTIONS. 



Nansemond Seminary 

A HOME SCHOOL 



FOl 



YouiigLadie^^^Littlel^ii'I^ 



CATALOGIES ON AI'IMilCATION. 



PRINCIPAL, 

SUFFOLK, VA. 



Fulgham & Gohoon, 



1)EA1,K1!S IX 



hk Sks, Eats, 

CAPS, 

Gents' Furnishing Goods, &c. 
SUFFOLK, VA. 



See Engraviii.^; of our Stoie on page 27. 



JNO. H. WRIGHT. 



mi. J. WRIGHT. 



Jno.H. Wrights Son, 

Ssii'llmraiicsii^ts, 

SUFFOLK, VA. 



^\'iil give pi'om})t personal at- 
tention to all Inisiness entrusted 
to them, and solicit patronage. 
Losses promptly settled. Repre- 
sent responsible Life and Fire 
Insurance Coni]ianies. 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 6l 

D. C. IIARRKLL. W. 11. .TONKS, JR. K. K. HOLLAND. 

D. C. HARRELL & CO. 

-ALVNTFACTIRERS OF 

BUILDING BRICKS 

SUFFOLK, VA. 

With the Finest Clay and the Latest Improved Machinery, 
we are prepared to furnish Bricks to the Trade, in Large or 
Small Quantities, at the VERY LOWEST FIGURP:S. ' 

CORRESPONDKXCK SoLIC'TTEI), 

R. W. BAKER & CO. 

Fui^ijitiur'B Dealer!? and Undei^tal^ei^? 

SUFFOLK, VA. 

See Engraving of our storo on page 21, 

WM. ELEY & BRO. 

UNDER THE JiOOTllE ACADEMY OF MUSIC, 

IS TlIK ri.ACK 'lO lUV 

Dp\; GgqcIs, Dpgss Goods, f^otions 

Ladies' and Gent's Furnishing' Goods, 

Washington Square, Suffolk, Va. 



62 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 

EXTRACTS FROM THE DIARY OF JOS. PRENTIS. 

1837— 1849. 
THE GREAT FIRE OF 1837. 

The following account of this memorable event is copied 
from the diary of the late Joseph Prentis, Esq. , now in the pos- 
session of his grandnephew, Mr. Joseph Prentis Webb, to 
whose kindness the author and reader are alike indebted for 
this and other interesting extracts: 

[It may be here mentioned that Mr. Joseph Prentis was 
for 13 years the Clerk of the Superior and County Courts of 
this Circuit and County, in which position he was succeeded, 
in 1851, by his son, Judge Peter B. Prentis, the present efficient 
incumbent.] 

" Saturday, the 3rd of June, 1837, a fire broke out in Suf- 
folk, at the cabinet shop of Edward Arnold, a little after 
meridian. The wind blew very high from S.W., and before 6 
o'clock P. M. the most valuable and thickly settled portion of 
the lower part of the Town, on both §ides of the street, w^as 
laid in ashes. The Court House and Jail were burnt; the 
Clerk's Office, lately erected, fire-proof, escaped. About 130 
houses were burnt. I was among the unfortunate, losing my 
dwelling, store-house, kitchen, smoke-house and wood-house. 
The first named three houses are insured in the Mutual Assur- 
ance Society of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. McClenney carried 
us to their house and treated us as if we had been near rela- 
tions. We remained under their hospitable and friendly roof 
nearly a month before we could get a house to go into. I can 
never foroet them ; the debt we owe them is heavier than we 



ITS PI-:()Pf.f-; AXf) ITS TRADi;. 



6.> 



shall ever be able to pay. My children must never forget 
these dear, kind friends. Tlie kindness of the citizens and 
country people merits, and will recei\'e, a grateful remem- 
brance. On 27th began to collect our articles and put them 
into Mr. David Jordan's mansion, who most humanely and 
generously permitted us to take it — we being destitute of a 




ki;sii)i:.\L i: 01 or. i-. \v. sku.f.s. 

home — and he put himself to great inconvenience and went 
into a small house. My thanks are due him, which he has- 
and I hope not one of my fiunily will ever forget him." 

FATAL RAILR(Mn ACCIDF.NTS. 

Under date of Friday, August nth, 1837, the diarv reads' 
" Between 9 and 10 A, M. the ])assenger train of cars, with a 
party of 150 returning up the road,, came in contact, nenr the- 



64 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



-WT. ID. 'yyooiD, 

Dentist, 

OFFICE OVER POST OFFICE, - - - SUFFOLK, VA. 

OFFICE HOURS : FROM 8 A. M. TO 5 P. M. 

Will goto Franklin the third Monday in each month, and remain all 

the week. 

NANSEMONO RIVER LINE. 

The Steamer TAHOMA, S. S. Hardisun, Master, LEAVES NORFOLK 

every Tuesday, Thursciay and Saturday, at 11 A. M.. for Suffolk and all 
Landings on Nanseraond River; RETURNING}, LEAVES SUFFOLK 

every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, at 10 A. M., and will make an 
extra trip on Saturday during the trucking season. 

Receives freights for all points on Suffolk A: Carolina and Suffolk Lum- 
ber Co.'s Railroads. 

N. G. NORFLEET, Agt., Suffolk, Va. J. W. PERRY Si CO.,Agts.,Norfolk,Va. 

BALLARD & SMITH, 

DEALERS IX 

Dry Goods, Notions, Shoes, Mats and Carpets 

Washington Square, Suffolk, Va. 

DE. ED. D. PHILLIPS, Managing Pharmacist, 

Main, next door to Main & Washington Sts., SUFFOLK, VA. 

Keeps always on hand a full assortment of fresh Drugs and all of the 
new remedies, besides a full supply of the following proprietary articles, 
viz: Phillips' Old Dominion Tonic, Phillips' Carbolic Tooth Wash, 
Phillips' Pellicura, Phillips' Comp. Tonic Pills, Phillip.s' Kidney Tonic, 
Phillips' Tooth Ache Drops, Phillips' Vegetable Liver Pills, and many 
others ; also, a select lot of choice perfumeries and other Drug sundries. 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 



65 



L. E. WHALRY. 



W. II. KIDEK. 



WHALEY & RIDER, 

DKAI.HKS IX 

Hail, (Jrain, Mill Feed, Fto 



FERTILIZERS, &C. 




Have constantly on hand a very large stock of Ilay, Grain, &c., 
from New York and the West. 

Orders Solicited and Proini)t Attention given to Correspond- 
ence and Shipments. 

RETAIL WAREHOUSE 

At intersection of the Norfolk & Western and the Suffolk Lum- 

l»er Co.'s Railroads. 

Wholesale Warehouse at Foot of Main Street 

S\iffoliL, Va- 



66 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 

bridge at Richard F. Goodwin's, by which three young- ladies, 
viz: Miss Eley, of Isle of Wight, Miss Roberts, of do., and 
Miss McClennev, of Nansemond, were instantly killed. Some 
140 others were so badly hurt as to be compelled to remain at 
Mr. Goodwin's for many days after the accident. Too much 
praise cannot be awarded to Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin for their 
kindness in administering to the comforts of the distressed. 
Their house was rendered a perfect hospital. The gentlemen 
and ladies of Suffolk were prompt in lending their aid and 
repaired to the scene of destruction and continued their exer- 
tions till the patients were removed to their homes. 

' ' On the night of the same day two decent, sober, re- 
spectable citizens, Richard Oliver and Woodward, return- 
ing at night walking on the railroad in a hard rain, were 
overtaken by a locomotive and run over without being sensi- 
ble that they were in any danger. No blame whatever is to be 
attributed to them. The poor men died, Woodward an hour 
after he was brought to the R. R. office in Suffolk, and Oliver 
lingered till the following Monday about noon, when he died,, 
having undergone the most excruciating pains. In the first 
case the Inquest who sat on the dead bodies found Etheredge, 
the train captain, and Williams, the engineer, guilty of wilful 
and gross negligence; and that the parties came to their death 
by this cause. Process was immediately issued by the Coroner 
against the persons charged. They escaped and are going at 
large out of Nansemond County." 

"On the 9th of June, 1838, received a commission from 
Judge Baker appointing me Clerk of the Circuit Superior 
Court of Law and Chancery pro tem. for Nansemond. 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 67 



" On the iith resigned my commission as Surveyor and 
Inspector of tlie Port of Suffolk, which office I ha\e held for 
upwards of 27 years. After my resii^nation I accepted the 
State appointment and proceeded to the execution of the office. 

" 14th. Elected Clerk of the County Court of Nanse- 
mond." 

"December ist, 1848. Elijah Johnson, F. N., was huni; 
in the inside of the enclosure between the Court House and 
Jail, in pursuance of his conviction and sentence pronounced 
at the last Superior Court by Judge Baker, for the murder of 
Jemima Turlington, a poor old woman of 80. The attendance 
was \'ery large. Arrangements so skillfully made for the exe- 
cution that the poor guilty creature expired apparently with 
little pain. Col. Hugh H. Kelly, the acting Sheriff, an officer 
who never shrinks from duty, performed the painful and heart- 
rending duty." 

"January 29th, 1849. On this day 43 years I obtained 
my license to j)ractice the law in the Superior and Interior 
Courts of the Commonwealth. Removed from Williamsburg 
to this place (Suffolk), arrived here on the 3d July, 1805, 
where I have continued to reside. On this day there is living- 
only one white male, Mr. Arthur Smith, who was a house- 
keeper and head of a family when I came here." 

THE FIRST PRINTIN(; PRESS. 

" The S/iJfo/k Inir/iii^(')in)\ a newsi)aper i)ublished in Sui- 
folk,- John R. Kilby, Editor, Wm. R. McLean, |)rinter, was 
this morning — lanuar\- 4th, 1849 — delivered to subscribers. Its 
j)rincij)les are Whig. The first ])rinting ])ress which was e\er 



68 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 

BOTETOURT COUNTY, VA. 

IMMEDIATELY ON THE LINE OF THE NORFOLK & 

WESTERN RAILROAD, ON SUMMIT OF 

BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS, 

41 MILES WEST OE LYNCHBURG, H. 

OPEN FOR VISITORS 

From 1st June to 15th October 



THE CELEBRATED 

Dyspepsia ^ater. 



PHILIP F. BROWN, 

Proprietor. 



See opposite page fur view of Blue Ridge Springs froai Wild Cat Knob) 



ITS P1-:01M.E AND ITS TRADE. 



69 




70 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



established in this town. It is dated on Tuesday, the 2nd 
inst., to be issued twice a week, at $2.50 per ann." 

"March 6th, 1849. President's Inaugural Message, deliv- 
ered in Washington at 12 o'clock on Mondtiy, was received and 
printed in this place at 3 o'clock next day, lor which this new 
press is entitled to credit. 

"UP-HILL WORK." 

As has already been stated, a large share of the bir :I- 
ness of Suffolk, prior to 1837, ^^'^s carried on in the lower 
portion of the Town. The Dismal Swamp Land Company had 
a large depot there and controlled an immense trade in juniper 
and cypre5s shingles and lumber. Other large mercantile 
establishments had their offices and warehouses in the same 
quarter, which also contained many of the most valuable and 
attractive residences. After the conflagration of 1837, which 
laid waste this desirable locality and reduced its buildings to a 
pile of smouldering ruins, many families moved up to the hill 
and there built their houses. Since that time the tendencv of 
the Town generally has been to recede from its original position 
and to spread out in all directions from the head of Main 
street. . * 

RAILROAD vs. TURNPIKE. 

The merchants in the olden time were in the habit of 
making semi-annual trips to lay in their supplies for the spring 
and fall trade. Some went to Philadelphia, some to New 
York; and the journey was quite an undertaking, for those 
were the davs before railroads. Sometimes se\'eral merchants 



ITS PEOPLE ANM) ITS TRADE. 7I 



would form a party and ^o tog^ether on board a coasting- vessel, 
laden with shingles. Others would go by stage coach to 
Portsmouth, where they could take the steamboat to Balti- 
more; thence up Elk Ri\er to Frenchtown, where another 
stage coach was taken to New-Castle, and from there to Phila- 
delphia by steamboat. The trip occupied three days and three 
nights — rather too suggestive of Jonah's travelling experiences. 
Now we can breakfast in Suffolk and suj) in New York the 
same day. \'erily the times have changed, and the new era is 
a vast impro\ement upon its predecessor. 

RELIGIOUS GROWTH. 

As late as 1820 there was only one church in Suffolk — a 
small frame building on the hill, without ceiling or plastering. 
This was known as the Methodist Meeting House, and was 
used by the circuit preachers and such other ministers as might 
chance to remain here over night in j^assing through the 
country. It was customary on such occasions to send round 
a hand bell with a notice that preaching might be expected at 
early candle-light. There were few professors of religion in 
Suffolk at that period, and no regular public worship. To-day 
there are no less than six well supported churches in the Town. 
and as many flourishing Sunday sch(jols. 

THE shinc;le trade. 

In "the good old days" this was (juite an extcnsixe 
branch of industry in this district and was mainly conducted by 
the Dismal Swamp Land Company. Half a dozen large ves- 
sels were constantly engaged in carrying shingles from Suflolk 



SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



JOSEPH P. WEBB, 

DEALER IN 

Drfug?, paints? Oil?, Building Material? 

&c., &c. 

WASHINGTON SQUARE, 

SUFFOLK, VA. 



Mr. Webb is a native of Suffolk, and except when absent 
at school and during- the war, has resided here continuously all 
his life. From 1862 to 1865 he served in the 13th Virginia 
Cavalry with the Army of Northern Virginia. 

He commenced business immediately after the war in a 
small way, beginning with drugs alone. But other lines of 
goods were, from time to time, added, until now he is well and 
favorably known to the country trade in Virginia and North 
Carolina, in the Counties along the lines of the Seaboard & 
Roanoke, Norfolk & Western, Suffolk & Carolina and Suffolk 
Lumber Company's Railroads, as an extensive jobber ol" Drugs, 
Paints, Oils, Sash, Doors, Blinds, Window Glass, Fancy Goods, 
Books, Stationery, Tobacco, Cigars, Snuff, Lamp Goods, Toi- 
let and Laundry Soaps, Lye, Starch, Spices and other "Gro- 
cers' Drugs." 

Li 1870 he built a handsome brick store and warehouses 
on the south side of Washington Square, which he occupied 
until burnt out in the great fire of 7th June, 1885. He is now 
rebuilding a large brick three-story establishment on the old 
site (see Engraving on page 121) and in the meantime his 
headquarters are on the opposite side of the street 

He enjoys exceptional facilities for the conduct of a large 
business which is increasing e\'ery year. 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 



73 







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k 
k 








a 




»- ff 








FISKE & PURDIE, 

cclOSoo 
HIGH STREET, 

PORTSMOUTH, 


w 














k 
k 
k 
k 
k 
k 
k 






PRINTERS AND BOOKBINDERS 






ki 




FOUNDED 1840. 

KII.I. KACII^IXIHS, 
OOOD WORK, 

I.OAV I*KICKS. 

FINE COLOR PRINTING, 
PAPER RULING. 












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k 
k 
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k 
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74 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



to the Northern markets. Hundreds of hands were employed 
in the Swamp getting them ready, carrying them to the side of 
the canal and boating them to the landing on Nansemond 
River a few miles below Suffolk. This trade kept a good deal 
of ready money in circulation among our people in those days, 
as the boatmen and the '* Swampers" procured their rations, 
tobacco, whiskey and articles of clothing from the Suffolk 
merchants, while the agent, the inspectors and the farmers who 
hired out their surplus hands to the Company also left a fair 
proportion of their earnings in the Suffolk stores. Besides the 
Dismal Swamp Land Company, others were largely interested 
in the Shingle Trade, w^iich flourished here for many years — 
some drawing their supplies from Horse Pool Swamp, in North 
Carolina. At first cypress shingles were regarded as inferior, 
but in later years their excellence was appreciated and they 
acquired a higher value than even juniper. 

WOODEN MONEY. 

Half a century ago the Lumber Trade was also a very 
prominent factor in Suffolk's commercial importance. Some 
eight or ten large houses were engaged in the business. For 
several weeks before Christmas, carts loaded with lumber and 
staves would pour into town in great numbers, and the streets 
would be worked up into a quagmire or a dust-bed, according 
to the prevailing state of the weather. On Saturdays, especi- 
ally, the carts crowded round the store doors in such numbers 
that the thoroughfares were almost impassable. The merchants 
and their clerks were up and waiting on their customers by 
dawn, filling orders all day long which taxed their utmost 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 75 



capacity, and g-enerally receiving payment in shingles, staves, 
or lumber. Trade of this kind was peculiarly tedious and 
annoying about Christmas time when a load worth probably 
$2 would be bartered for sugar, coffee, flour, cheese, spices, 
tobacco, powder, shot, gun-flints, and a dozen other articles — 
the balance always being adjusted with liquor. Nearly all the 
merchants in those days were large dealers in apple-brandy 
and rum. Distilled liquor was bought at 30 cents and retailed 
at half a dollar per gallon, and was thus put within the reach of 
all classes. The Temperance movement had not then been 
inaugurated and " Local Option" was an unknown quantity. 
Nearly every shingle cart was supplied with its liquor-jug, and 
it seemed to be everybody's business to encourage this branch 
of trade. Gradually, however, it began to fall oft' till most of 
the store-keepers abandoned, it altogether. 

PORK AND BACON. 

In the early history oi' the Town a considerable trade was 
carried on in these products. The circumjacent country 
abounded in splendid ' ' hog-ranges, ' ' and the farmers fattened 
large quantities of j)ork at \ery little cost. The bacon thus 
obtained was handled by the merchants for their home-trade or 
for shii)ment to other markets, and formed quite an important 
adjunct to their general business. 

TAR AND TURPENTINE. 

Suffolk was famous at one time as a great shii)i)ing i)oint 
for these staples, large cjuantities of which were brought to the 
Town and bartered for merchandise. FLverv barrel was 



76 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



A. S. DARDEN. K.Stal>lislied in 1866. R. S. ELEY. 



(AT THK OLD STAND) 



DEALERS IX ALL KINDS OF 

DRY GOODS FOR LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, 

BOOTS, SHOES, HATS, CAPS AND 

READY-MJIDE CLOTHING 

CARPETS, OIL CLOTHS AND MATS, 

HARDWARE, FARMING IMPLEM-ENTS AND BUILDING 

MATERIAL, SPECIALTIES. 

Sole Agents for Strong & Carroirs Fine Shoes for Gentlemen ; Clement, 
Weil & Ball's Fine Shoes for Ladies, and the celebrated Bay State Shoes 
(every pair warranted.) Send for quotations. 
See Engraving of New Store on page 12L SUKFOLK.VA. 

JOHN F. PINNER. .TORN B. PINNER. 

JOHN F. & JOHN B. PINNER, 

To parties desiring to locate in Suffolk we offer for sale Building Lots 
in the best localities in town on most reasonable terms. For information 
concerning real estate in this section correspond or apply at office. 

DAUGHTREY & HINES 

Fancy Groceries, Cigars, Tobaccos and Liquors, 

Cor. Riddick and Washiiifytou Sts., ■ SUFFOLK, VA. 

A full line of above goods always on hand. Specialties : Pure Butter, 
Fine Grades of Flours, Coffees, and Fancy Condiments. Try the Cele- 
brated Red Star Flour. Full line of Pure Wines and Liquors of every 
kind for medicinal and cooking purposes. Free delivery to all parts of 
the town and depots. Polite and attentive Salesmen. Orders solicited. 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 



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78 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 

branded by the Government Inspector according to its quality. 
This business has now dwindled away almost entirely, 

GENERAL PRODUCE. 

The merchants also bought cotton by the bale or in the 
seed ; they traded in corn, peas, flax-seed, beeswax and tallow, 
and, in return, sold almost everything needed by the farmers in 
the way of dry goods, clothing and groceries. But business, 
in those days, was generally conducted in a very rough-and- 
ready sort of a way. The stores were small, poorly lighted, 
comfortless and unattractive ' ' shanties, ' ' by comparison to 
which their successors of to-day are magnificent palaces. 
Indeed it is not too much to say that many of Suffolk's modern 
business houses and residences would do credit to any town or 
city on the Continent. 

RAILROAD FACILITIES. 

The year 1850 is a memorable one in Suffolk's history, 
for it witnessed the opening of her first railroad communication 
with the outer world. On the 9th of November the Ports- 
mouth and Suffolk section of the Seaboard & Roanoke Rail- 
road was completed, and the occasion was celebrated by a 
grand excursion, which initiated many of our citizens, and 
those of the neighboring towns, into the mysteries, pleasures 
and discomforts of the "Iron Road." A year later the line 
was extended as far as Weldon, N. C, and shortly afterwards 
the Norfolk & Petersburg Railroad, also passing through Suf- 
folk, was begun, but was not completed till 1859. Both these 
roads suffered heavily during the Civil War, but were repaired 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 79 

and put into g'ood w orkino- order shortly after the restoration 
of peace. 

At Weldon, N. C. , the Seaboard cS: Roanoke Raih'oad 
connects with the Raleigh &. (iaston Railroad, leading to 
Raleigh, the Capital City of North Carolina, where it joins the 
Raleigh & Augusta Road, leading to Hamlet, and there inter- 
sects the Carolina Central Railroad, from Wilmington to Char- 
lotte, at which point we find roads running to Asheville, 
Columbia, Augusta and other Railroad Centres, whence direct 
communication is maintained with New Orleans and all points 
South and South-West. 

At Portsmouth- — -only 17 miles distant from Suffolk — connec- 
tion is made with the Chesapeake (S: Ohio, the New York, Phila- 
delphia & Norfolk and the Norfolk Southern Railroads, with 
their branches leading to the North, West and South. Here 
also we are within an hour's run, by rail or steamboat, from 
the popular watering places. Old Point, Ocean View, Virginia 
Beach and Newport's News, not to mention the charming 
scenery of Chesapeake Bay and the James, Potomac and York 
Rivers. 

At Petersburg the Norfolk & Petersburg Railroad con- 
nected with the Southside Road, the western terminus of 
which was at Lynchburg, where it joined the Virginia S: Ten- 
nessee Railroad, thus forming a through line from Norfolk to 
Bristol, a distance of 404 miles. lliese three corporations 
were subsequently consolidated, and became the Atlantic, Mis- 
si.ssippi & Ohio (now the Norfolk 8c Western) Railroad Com- 
pany. A glance at the map will show that this great system, 
with its connections, whose name is Legion, tra\erses the 



8o 



SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



■THES 



BRAMBLETON FLORAL COMPANY 








E. V. WHITE. 



Brambleton Ave., Norfolk, Va. 

Weddings, Funerals, Dinner Parties, 
and all Public Occasions promptly sup- 
plied with Choice Flowers, made up in 
beautiful designs as ordered. 

10,000 Clioice RoBes. 

Flowers or Plants delivered to the Ex- 
press Company securely packed. Or- 
ders by mail or telephone No. 208. 
Orders left at our City Office, 138 Main 
St. (E. T. Thomas' Confectionery Store), 
will be telephoned and have prompt 
attention. 
H .C. PERCY, BENJ. REYNOLDS, 

Treusri rer. Super inteyiclent. 

Special attention to Out-of-Town Orders. 

CIIAKLES SCHROEDER 



V. WHITE & CO. 

RAILROAD, STEAMBOAT, SAW AND GRIST MILL 
MACHINISTS' AND BLACKSMITHS' 

TOOLSMLSUPPLIES 

Manilla, Bolt and Tarred Rope, 

LUBRICATING, ILLUMINATING AND PAINT OILS, 

Gum and Leather Belting, Lace Leather, Packing, 

LANTERNS. CHAINS (ALL SIZES), EYE BOLTS AND DOGS 

FOR RAFTING, 

NORFOLK, VA. 



ITS ri'.OPLl-: AND lis TRADK. 



8i 



THE HODGDON ,.*^ SPENCER CO. 



IMPORTERS OF 



hnim Suaiio, Eainii, Clismicals, h 

AMMONIATED FERTILIZERS 




PERUVIAN GUANO MIXTURE 

Xavo 1I>. I»acUiijfe for 25 CeiitH. 

NORFOLK, VA. 



82 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 

States of Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and Missis- 
sippi, and is intersected at several points by other trunk lines 
leading to all the Western Cities. At Petersburg, too, the 
Norfolk & Western Railroad connects closely with the Rich- 
mond and Petersburg and the Petersburg and Weldon sections 
of the great "Atlantic Coast Line" system, which aftbrds 
direct access to all important points North and South. The 
Atlantic & Danville Railroad, which has its deep-water termi- 
nus at Claremont, on James River, and will shortly be com- 
pleted to Dan\qlle, where it will connect with the Danville & 
New River Railroad, is crossed by the Norfolk & Western 
Road at Waverly, in the neighboring county of Surry. It is 
probable that this line will be extended, before long, to Nor- 
folk, passing through Suffolk, and thus opening up to our 
trade a new and rich section of country. 

Suffolk is also the northern terminus of two local Rail- 
roads — the Suffolk Lumber Company's and the Suffolk & 
Carolina. Both these roads are of recent construction, but 
their beneficial influence upon the trade and commercial 
importance of our Town is already clearly pronounced. They 
penetrate Nansemond County in a southerly direction, and tap 
the rich timber and agricultural district beyond the borders of 
North Carolina. 

It will thus be seen that in the matter of accessibility, Suf- 
folk enjoys abundant advantages, being connected by numerous 
avenues of transportation with all the Central, Southern and 
North Eastern States. 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 83 



"THE LATE UNPLEASANTNESS." 

In the War l)etween the States the Town of Suffolk, 
although subjected to severe and protracted suffering', was not 
destined to take any conspicuous part. Of course her gallant 
sons were among the first to enlist for the defence of their 
State and the Southern Confederacy, but their distinguished 
services were mostly rendered at a distance from their own 
homes. In April, 1S61, the "Suffolk Continentals" were 
enrolled as Com])any B, in the i6th Virginia Regiment. Com- 
pany A, of the same Regiment, Company I, of the 41st Vir- 
ginia Infantry, and Company F, of the 9th Virginia Infantry, 
were also organized in Nansemond County, and produced 
many a hero and filled many an honored grave during the four 
dark years of the cruel, unnatural struggle. Rut the tide of 
active strife seemed to a\'oid this pleasant spot, as though 
impressed with its own unfitness, and the non-combatant citi- 
zens were mercifully spared those scenes of anguish and horror 
that came within the terrible experience of many Virginia 
towns. Suffolk, however, although her immediate share in the 
w^arfare was of a passive rather than a \iolent character, was. 
nevertheless, a camj), if not a garrison, during the whole tour 
years' term of hostilities. Prior to the evacuation. ol Norft^lk, 
which occurred on May loth, 1862, the Town was occupied by 
a strong Confederate force, who retired beyond the Black - 
water when the news of Norfolk's fall was received. On Mon- 
day, May 1 2th, 1S62, Col. Dodge's New York Cavalry rode 
into the Town and took formal possession. The Mayor. Mr. 
Benjamin Riddick, waited upon Col. Dcjdge at the old Wash- 
ington Hotel, and was a-sured of protection lor all • peaci-ablf 



84 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



citizens, under certain restrictions. After a few hours' delay, 
Col. Dodge — probably suspecting the proximity of a dreaded 
"rebel" troop — left the Town, after establishing a system of 
pickets, and took up his quarters at Jericho, a mile and a half 
to the eastward, where he was shortly reinforced by General 
Mansfield's command, which poured into the town and sur- 
rounding country by the Norfolk, Portsmouth and Smithfield 
Roads. The troops remained encamped on the outskirts of 
Suffolk for a year, to the number of about 50,000. 

THE SIEGE OF SUFFOLK. 

Towards the middle of April, 1863; while Gen. Peck was 
in command of the Federal forces in this neighborhood, and the 
great Confederate hero and patriot. General Lee, was pressing- 
forward toward Chancellors ville, General Longstreet was sent 
here, with a large body of troops, for the double purpose of 
obtaining provisions from Eastern North Carolina and of holding 
the enemy in check, until the important issues pending near 
Fredericksburg had been decided. The manoeuvre was emi- 
nently successful in both respects, and it was during the pro- 
gress of this feint that what is known as the ' ' Siege of Suf- 
folk " occurred. On the 12th of April, Longstreet arrived and 
menaced the Town, into which had poured the whole Federal 
Army. It was no part of his design to engage the enemy in 
battle, so he merely hovered about in a threatening attitude 
till his end was accomplished, and retreated on the 4th of May. 
This was the only demonstration of any consequence that 
occurred here during the war, and resulted in no regular 
engagement. A few skirmishes were fought, the most important 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 85 



of which took place at Proxiclence Church, live miles to the 
North-west of Suffolk, where five or six men were killed. 
The Confederate flag- — so dear to the hearts of her imprisoned 
people — was ne\'er seen in Suffolk after the day on which the 
enemy made their first appearance in the Town — May 12th, 
1862. The citizens were completely cut off from the outer 
world from that date until after Lee's surrender at Appomattox. 
During the " siege " it was estimated that as many as 60,000 
Federal soldiers were in the Town for three weeks at a time. 
The residents were for the most part kept close prisoners in 
their homes. They were allowed few privileges and no means 
of acquiring information. No article of merchandise, how- 
ever insignificant, was procurable at the stores without an order 
from the Provost Marshal. This state of things continued for 
three weary years. Towards the last there was a good deal 
of suffering. Many poor people, having neither money nor 
the means of earning it, were reduced to a condition of great 
destitution, which their benevolent but scarcely more fortunate 
neighbors exerted themsehes to ameliorate. As the war drew 
near its close, the Federal troops withdrew from the immediate 
vicinity of the Town and entrenched themselves about three 
miles distant, at Bernard's Mill, on the Norfolk Road. Another 
encamj)ment was made on the Portsmouth Road, at a place 
called Getty's Station, about 10 or 12 miles from Sufiblk. 
From these points frequent foraging raids were made and the 
people generally, in town and country, were subjected to 
numerous and varied annoyances ; but they bore up bravely 
under their grievous Inirden, and were even enabled, at times, 
to view the gloomy situation with some degree of resignation. 



86 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



if not cheerfulness. If Suffolk's sons did gallant service during 
this trying period, her fair daughters displayed equal heroism 
in their patient endurance of all the ills and privations incident 
to their distressing situation, while to both are due the tribute 
of unqualified praise. 

''PEACE, GENTLE PEACE." 

vSufTolk's experience, when hostilities were finally suspended 
and the surviving heroes of the ' ' Lost Cause ' ' were at last 
permitted to return home and resume their peaceful occupa- 
tions, was common to most of the towns and cities of Eastern 
Virginia. For some time little was done beyond ' ' reckoning 
up the cost." Every man and woman who had not lost a rela- 
tive was at least minus a friend; property of all kinds had depre- 
ciated in value ; the once fertile plain had become a barren 
wilderness ; the money issued by the Confederate States had 
become waste paper and gold was at a ruinous premium ; pro- 
visions were scarce and dear ; credit was annihilated and finan- 
cial stability meant nothing; in short the whole Southern 
Country was ruined, for the time being. But there were still 
some Suffolk people left — enough to start a little world with — 
and they of the right kind. Courage, fortitude, industry and 
perseverance were their leading characteristics, then, as now% 
and various commercial enterprises, some of which have sur- 
vived and prospered to this day, were inaugurated before the 
echoes of the conqueror's retiring footsteps had fairly died away. 
Trade of all kinds was speedily revived and the neglected soil 
was once more "with verdure clad." The Town of Suffolk, 
and the many advantages she offered, soon attracted such 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. .87 



favorable attention that she more than doubled her population 
in the decade between the years 1870 and 1880. She has had 
her lull share of misfortune to contend with— -panics, fires, 
"hard times," and the like — -but it is not too much to say 
that to-day she is as happy and prosperous as any town of her 
size in the Land of- the Sunny South, if not in the whole of the 
United States. Faithful statistics and official figures in sup})ort 
of this statement will he found scattered through the pages of 
this little \olume, which is, of itself, irrefutable e\'idence of the 
liberal, enterprising and public-spirited character of the People 
of Suffolk. Pope possibly had this town before his mental 
vision — although the record of his visit here has not been pre- 
served — when he wrote the following pointed couplet: 

Reason's whole pleasure, all the joys of sense, 
Lie in three words — health, peace antl conipetetice. 



TRANSPORTATION LINKS. 

In 1867, when the tumult of the terrible cixll strife had 
hardly subsided, and Virginia lay crushed in spirit and bank- 
rupt in resources, the Old Dominion Steamshij) Compan\' was 
established in succession to the old New \'ork iS: \'irgini;v 
Steamship Co., and has, since that date, gradually increased in 
wealth and favor until it has become one of the most substan- 
tial and influential corporations in the country. Its magnificent 
fleet of ocean steamers ply between New York and Richmond, 
calling at Norfolk and City Point, while llu- fine steamboats of 
the Comi)any are to be met with on all the j)rincij)al ri\ers of 
Virginia and North Carolina. '{"his enterprising Compan\- 



8S SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 

Hstablislied in 1875. 



PARKER & HARRELL, 

Photographers and Dealers in Picture Frames 

PICTURE FRAME MOULDINGS, 
CHROMOS, BRACKETS, HAT RACKS, BOOKSHELVES, &.c. 

WASHINGTON SQUARE, SUFFOLKJfA. 

CAUSEY & JORDAN, 

DEALERS IN 

DRY GOODS, NOTIONS, CLOTHING 

HATS CAPS, 
BOOTS, SHOES AND GENERAL MERCHANDISE, 
SUFFOLK, VA. 

blVERY, 8aLE and BXCHANGE 



RIDDICK STREET, SUFFOLK, VA. 

A good ussortQieiit of Western Horses and Mules alwnys on hand. 

L. M. TEBO, 
BUILDER /" CONTRACTOR 

SUFFOLK, VA. 

PLANS AND ESTIMATES FURNISHED ON APPLICATION. 
ORDERS SOLICITED AND SATISFACTION GUARANTEED. 



ITS ri-:<)iM,i-: and ns tradI'; 



89 



s. R. iDuisnsr, 

OJBEico: IVI^lxa. Street, S»XJ3B*T'OXjI5:, TT-A.- 




FIRE, LIFE. ACCIDENT AND MARINE 

INSURANCE 

Effected for any ainomit in the following English. (Jciman and 
American Companies: 
Liverpool and Lfnuloii ami ("ilobc, of Enj^. I Ajiiiciiilural, of New Ndik. 
Phrjenix. of ICuKlaiid, (".ermaiiia, of New Voik, 

Ciiiiimcrcial-riiioii. of I'lij^lanci. ' l-'ire Assoriatioii, of I'liiladclpiiia, 

Hainliurn-lirc-iiK-n, of (".ti inauy, I'dersburj^ Sa\ iii>;s and Insiirantc t"om'\ , 

New York liuierwrilcrs' Agency, IMkliiIx, of Brooklyn, N. V., 

Fidelity and Casualty Co., of New. Nork, J Virginia State, of Richnioiid, \a. 
\Vashin;jton Life, of New York. 
.1// LussrH J'roiiiiitlii Pfiiil at 1111/ Oftlcr. 

Capital and Assets Represented, $150,000,000. 

imANCH Ol'lMCICS, roRTS.MOlTH ANT) KKANJCLIN, \A. 
Reinenibrr it is always best to iiisiirc yonr i)roi)erly at a Regular Insurarue ( XViee, 
wbeff iIk- JMlerLSt of iIk- insnrt'd will bi- propiily lan-d for in v\<.-\\\. of loss. 

Fair Rates, First-Class Companies and Strict Attention to Business 
is my Motto. 



90 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 

runs a daily boat for passengers and freight between Norfolk 
and Suffolk, calling at all landings on Nansemond River, 
From Norfolk the distance to New York is 285 miles, and the 
steamers of this line generally make the trip in twenty-four 
hours, with great regularity. The passenger accommodations 
of the Old Dominion Steamships are of the most luxurious 
character, and during the Company's career of nineteen years 
not a single life entrusted to its care has been lost. 

The Nansemond River Line also dispatches a passenger 
and freight steamboat every Monday, Wednesday and Friday 
from Suffolk to Norfolk, returning to Suffolk every Tuesday, 
Thursday and Saturday, and calling at all the intermediate 
landings. This line was established a year ago and carries 
freights from all points on the Suffolk & Carolina and the Suf- 
folk Lumber Company's Railroads. 

The Baltimore Steam Packet Company (Old Bay Line) 
owns and operates what have justly been called the ' ' Palace 
Steamers of Chesapeake Bay" — a truly magnificent line of 
steamers, adapted to a high rate of speed, beautiful m form, 
substantial in construction and furnished sumptuously. With 
travellers this line has long' been one of the most popular in 
the country, as it affords a most delightful break in the mono- 
tony of a long railroad journey between the North and South, 
without loss of time or other inconvenience. The Bay Line 
Steamers connect at Portsmouth with the Seaboard & Roanoke 
trains, thus offering another direct avenue and outlet for Suffolk. 
It will be seen, therefore, that in the matter of transportation 
facilities, the Town and Port of Suffolk is unsurpassed by any 
other of its size and importance in any part of the country. 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 



91 



THP: SUFFOLK & CAROLINA RAILROAD CO. 



This Company was organized, under the laws of Virginia 
and North CaroHna. In 1S84, as follows : President, Chauncey 
Brooks ; Secretary and Treasurer, W. H. Hosley ; Directors, 
Chauncey Brooks, W. H. Bosley, W. N. Camp, Chas. F. 
Pitt, Jr., John S. (iitlings a'nd S. P. Ryland, Jr. The import- 
ance of this line, as a feeder to Suffolk's trade, can hardly be 




RIVER FRONT I'ROl'KRTV Ol" SrHl-'OLK AM) CARol.lXA R. R. CO. 

estimated. It opens uj) an entirely new country, through 
which pnxluce was formerly hauled 25 or 30 miles to the point 
of shipment. It extends now from Suffolk, its northern termi- 
nus, to Sunbury, North Carolina, a distance <^f 22 miles, 
whence it is contemplated to extend the road to some conve- 
nient point on the Chowan River, 12 miles further, where direct 
commmiication will be opcMied, by water, to all the ii\crs and 



92 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



sounds of North Carolina, and thence to the whole world. The 
purpose of the Company is to connect Nansemond River, at 
Suffolk, with Chowan River and Albemarle Sound, and con- 
tracts are now^ being made with a view to completing the work 
by the coming fall. Over this road there is now^ a daily pas- 
senger and freight ser\ace. There are already three large lum- 
ber mills situated on the line, and others are in course of con- 
•struction. Lumbermen would acquire incalculable advantages 
by locating their mills at the Chowan River terminus, and 
shipping their produce over this road to Suffolk, by which 
means they would avoid the risk ot breaking-up which always 
attends log-rafts crossing the open waters of Albemarle Sound, 
and the still greater risk of losing their logs by sinking, after 
they have been lying for any length of time in the water 
awaiting the making up of the raft, and being afterwards towed 
a long distance to .the saw-mill. They would also find it cheaper 
to send their sawn lumber this way than to tow it to any 
other distributing point to be manufactured. 

The soil of Southern Nansemond and of Gates, Chowan 
and Perquimans Counties, through all of which the Road runs, 
are extremely fertile and peculiarly adapted to the growth of 
early " trucks," being 8 to lo days in advance of the seaboard 
counties. Enterprising "truckers," therefore, who located 
along this line, where the land is very cheap, could certainly 
do well, as the Company would naturally give them every 
advantage and encouragement. 

The completion of this road will also afford extraordinary 
facilities for the development of the important fish interest on 
the Chowan Ri\'er, which is distant from Suffolk only 34 miles. 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 93 



Owing" to the nunieroLis antl excellent a\ enues of transporta- 
tion, b)- land and water, centring at Suffolk, fish caught in 
the Chowan River at 3 P. M. could be put on the markets in 
Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York the following morning 
in time for breakfast. The journey from Chowan River to 
Suffolk will occupy an hour and a half, instead of 8 or 10 hours 
now necessary to accomj^lish it by the quickest available route. 
Passengers leaving Chowan Ri\er and Albemarle Sound, via 
the. Suffolk & Carolina Railroad, will be able to go to Norfolk 
and return the same day, with several hours to spare for the 
transaction of business. Since reaching Sunbury, N. C, this 
road has carried large quantities of cotton and other freight, 
luid its full capacity was taxed this spring in handling lime. . 
phosphates and other fertilizers. 

The Company possesses ample capital for its present 
requirements, and also for the prosecution of its contemplated 
extensions and the general development of its \ast property, 
which includes, at its Suffolk terminus, a mile of splendid 
water-front on Nansemond River, running back a considerable 
distance on Shingle Creek. This is by far the best and most 
accessible water-frontage in this neighborhood, and persons 
desiring to establish their business in Suffolk should by all 
means get a location on the Company's valuable j)roperty. 
In fact, the opening of the Suffolk 8c Carolina Railroad has 
revealed enormous possibilities for industrial enterprise at this 
point, and it is very unlikely that such favorable opportunities 
will fail t(^ attract capital to our Town. 



94 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA, 



THE LAST GREAT FIRE. 
Besides innumerable individual losses, of more or less con- 
seqwence, sustained by the people of Suffolk through the 
ravages of the fiery element, the devoted town has been visited 
on three occasions by wholesale and disastrous conflagrations, 
each of which has almost entirely destroyed the principal busi- 
ness quarter and created temporary consternation among all 
classes of the community. The first of these was the malicious 
and cruel work of the British Invaders in 1779 ; the second 
occurred in 1837, and was the result of accident ; the third and 
last, also accidental, happened just a year ago, and its traces 
are not yet completely obliterated or removed. On the 7th of 
June, 1885, at 11 o'clock P. M., fire was discovered in a 
wooden shed, used as a store-room by Messrs. Hall & Holt, 
Furniture Dealers, on the South side of Washington Square. 
The alarm was promptly given, but before anything could be 
done, the wind, which was blowing stiffly from the South, had 
carried the flames to the ware-room of Messrs. Darden & Eley, 
which was soon burning fiercely. The engine was powerless to 
arrest the progress of the devouring fire — fanned and encour- 
aged by its sister element, the wind — and it was soon evident 
that the business portion of Suffolk was doomed. The next 
victim was the handsome dry goods store of Mr. James R. 
Baker, on the North side of the Square. Then followed a 
scene which beggars description. Men rushed into their places 
of business, bent on saving such valuables as they could find, 
and often remaining there until driven out by the scorching- 
flames. The fire spread rapidly East and West, and in what 
seemed but a few minutes e\'ery house on the Square had dis- 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 



95 



appeared, except the store of Mr. A. S. Eley, the Exchange 
Hotel and the store of Mr. John F. Pinner, on the corner of 
Riddick street. At exactly midnight the tlames mounted the 
cupola of the Suffolk Hotel, in which stood the town clock, 
and the gilded hands and figures, now brilliantly illuminated, 
showed the hour to the excited crowd. Figuratively, as well 




WHERE THI', IIRK WAS STOPPED ON MAIX STRI:i:T. 

as literally, it was the " n(jon of night " for })oor braxe little 
Suffolk, and no man could foresee the extent of the threatened 
calamitw I Ia\ ing reached the corner of Washington Scjuare 
and Main Street, the fire took a northerly course down ihc last 
named thoroughfare, swallowing up all the houses in its path 
till it reached the residence of Mr. A. S, Eley, who here made a 



96 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 

most determined and systematic fight, which eventually proved 
successful in arresting the progress of the conflagration. 
Meantime the other wing of the fire had spread Westward up 
Kilby Street, devouring in its course the Suffolk Hotel, the 
old Washington Hotel and the splendid stables and residence 
of Mr. George W. Nurney. Besides the heavy pecuniary loss 
to the Town and the people, all business operations were for 
some time necessarily suspended, for the area wherein the com- 
mercial heart of Suffolk had been wont to beat was now a heap 
of smouldering ruins, upon which the stricken community 
could but gaze with grief and dismay. But it is at such a time 
as this, that men show to the world of what metal they are 
made, and Suffolk took this opportunity of adding new lustre 
to her glorious record, for it was soon apparent that her 
plucky people were not to be beaten — even by the most cruel 
and destructive of all known forces. Before the flames had 
been fairly extinguished, every vacant store and shed in the 
town had been engaged, and even the parlors of many resi- 
dences had been converted into the temporary abodes of trade. 
Rebuilding was begun almost immediately, and has been pur- 
sued actively until the present time — handsome brick struc- 
tures in many cases taking the place of antiquated wooden 
ones, and the already handsome stores being replaced by 
others still more imposing. In short, it may safely be stated 
in the case of Suffolk, as in similar ones which could be cited, 
that what at first appeared a dire and irreparable disaster was 
speedily converted, by the courage and energy of the sufferers 
themselves, into a real and permanent benefit ; for the new 
buildings have been constructed of more substantial and less 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 97 



combustible materials than their predecessors, the streets and 
side-walks have been widened and repaved, and a vastly 
impro\ed and beautified Suffolk has arisen from last year's 
debris under the busy hands of numerous workmen. 

ATTRACTIVE HOMES. 

There is no district in the United States that offers greater 
inducements and advantages to immigrants of all classes — 
native and foreign — in search of cheap and attractive homes, 
than the Town of Suffolk and the fine agricultural and timber 
lands of which it is the natural centre. Its mild, healthy and 
equable climate, exempt from the extremes of heat and cold, 
its excellent and numerous channels of transportation by land 
and water, the fertility of its soil and the diversity of its crops, 
together with other blessings which might be enumerated, 
seem to point to this neighborhood as specially suited for the 
profitable exercise of that natural thrift and enterprise which 
characterize the Northern, Western and European farmer. 
Many of this class are setded in Nansemond and the adjoining 
counties, where they are highly esteemed and cordially wel- 
comed. 

The products of this favored region are numerous and 
varied, including corn, wheat, oats, peanuts, cotton, potatoes 
and early vegetables for the Northern markets, ' ' Trucking' ' has 
proved a very profitable industry, and nearly half of Nanse- 
mond County is thus cultivated. The land, after the removal of 
the " truck croj)s " is immediately utilized for subsistence sup- 
plies, such as orchard grass, pea-vine, hay, cSic. , thus securing 
two distinct and valuable crops off the same land in each vcar. 



9^ * SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 

In addition to the land already under cultivation in the 
district tributary to Suffolk, an immense new area is rapidly 
becoming available along the lines of the Suffolk & Carolina 
and the Suffolk Lumber Company's Railroads, and the value of 
property is advancing with proportionate rapidity. These 
railroads were opened with the primary object of developing 
the great lumber interests of the section by which they are 
traversed. As this work progresses and the timber gradually 
disappears from the rich soil which gave it birth, the plow will 
take the place of the axe, and the forest, having fulhlled its 
appointed mission, will be succeeded by the corn-field and 
meadow. These lands can now be secured at a very low 
figure, and purchasers would be certain to make handsome 
profits upon their investments. 

THE SUFFOLK MANUFACTURING CO. 

This Company was organized in October, 1885, for the 
purpose of manufacturing Cotton Yarns, Warps. Twines. Bats, 
&c. , and has so far met with complete success, which promises 
to increase as time goes on. The mill is situated on the line of 
the Norfolk & Western Railroad, a hundred yards or so from 
the depot, and the raw material from which its products are 
manufactured is mostly grown in this immediate district. The 
Company therefore enjoys extraordinary facilities for conduct- 
ing its business economically, having direct access alike to the 
source of its supply and to the markets in which its produc- 
tions are disposed of The latter find a ready sale in Balti- 
more, Philadelphia, New York, Richmond and Norfolk, and 
the mill is kept busy to its full capacity in order to meet the 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 



99 



demand. Tlie mill now works something- over 1,200 si)indles 
and gives employment to 30 hands. Its capacity, however, 
will soon ha\^e to be enlarg-ed, if the orders continue to multi- 
ply as they are doing at present. The officers of the Company 
are : T. P. Baldwin, President ; Charles Cugle, Secretary and 
Treasurer, and Thomas W. Smith, SujDerintendent. The 




THE SrFFOLIC MAXriWrTlRIXC C( )MI'AN\'S (OTTOX MUJ . 

mechanical department is under the superxision of the foreman, 
B. F. Barnes, a ])ractical spinner and machinist. The gratify- 
ing success with which this experimental enteiprise has met 
will no douljt attract the attention of cajjitalists at a distance, 
and lead to the formation of other companies for similar i)ur- 
j)Oses ; and there seems to he no good ix-ason wh\' Suffolk 



lOO SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 

should not shortly become an important cotton-manufacturing; 
centre. 

BANKING. 

Suffolk is under no necessity for any exceptional banking- 
accommodations, for the reason that she is not — like Norfolk, 
for instance — a great seaport requiring large advances of cash 
for the purchase of whole crops of cotton, or for other similar 
purposes. On the contrary, our merchants and manufacturers 
rely, to a great extent, upon their own capital for carrying on 
their business, and the bank is not liable to be called upon for 
any heavy discounts, but serves rather as a depository and col- 
lecting agency than as a mere money lender. It thus happens 
that the Farmers Bank of Nansemond, which is the only finan- 
cial institution in Suffolk, although kept busy all the year 
round, is quite able to transact all the business that seeks it 
and to meet all possible demands upon its ample resources. 
Among its officers and directors are some of the leading capi- 
talists, merchants and professional men in Suffolk, and it can 
boast — as very few banks in the United States can — that its 
surplus is fifty per cent, larger than its capital stock. 

INSURANCE. 

To the ner\'ous person in moderate circumstances, regard- 
less of age, sex or occupation, there are few things capable of 
yielding such solid comfort as the possession of a sufficient 
Policy of Insurance — fire or life — with a first-class Company. 
Indeed, no prudent man will leave his property unprotected 
against the risk of fire, or his family unprovided for in the 
event of his death, when a trifling outlav, in the form of 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. lOI 



premiums, will absolutely secure him against pecuniary loss — 
possibly ruin — and his family, after he is gone, from poverty. 
When a man's property, whether it be his factory, store or 
dwelling house, is covered to its full \'alue by reliable insurance 
against the accidental spark or the malice of the incendiary, 
the peal of the tire alarm is robbed, to his ear, of half its cus- 
tomary terrors, for it awakens in him no dread of personal dis- 
aster ; and when he knows that immediately upon his death 
those nearest and dearest ones who now depend upon him for 
support will receive a sum of money sufficient to guard them at 
least against want, if not enough to supply them with their ac- 
customed comforts, his last days are unclouded by those tortures 
of apprehension which would otherwise necessarily assail him. 

As in business transactions generally, so in the matter of 
fire or life insurance, the wise man will have no dealings with 
other than sound and respectable companies, and there are so 
many of this class represented in Suffolk, each offering some 
special advantage or attraction, that the intending insurer is 
puzzled to make a selection, while he would be perfectly — 
perhaps equally — safe with all. Nearly all first class Insurance 
Companies doing business in the United States are represented 
in Suffolk by their Agents, and their aggregate capital and 
assets amount to scores of millions of dollars. 

Risks and possible evils of all kinds should be continually 
provided against, as a matter of business and as a matter of 
principle, and every uninsured person who estimates his prop- 
erty as worth protecting, and his family as worth providing for, 
will remedy the omission as speedilv as possible by taking out pol- 
icies, according to his means, on his life and worldy possessions. 



I02 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



EDUCATIONAL ADVANTAGES. 

Any attempt to advance original ideas upon the momen- 
tous question of Education, which is now universally admitted 
to be one of paramount importance in every civilized and pro- 
gressive community, would but weary the reader, and at the 
same time prove" a lamentable failure ; for the subject has been 
worn almost threadbare by the preachers and lecturers, com- 
mentators and statesmen, of many generations, and is still, as 
it is probably destined to remain, an unsolved problem. But 
it is gratifying to know that our own people enjoy exceptional 
advantages in their efforts to secure this ' ' pearl without price, ' ' 
and that the system in force here is as perfect and efficacious as 
any that has as yet been discovered. Besides the Public 
Schools, Suffolk numbers among its scholastic institutions 
several private Seminaries of the very highest order, for boys 
and girls. Virginia has always been famous for the number 
and high rank of her Schools and Colleges, and Suffolk has 
done her full share towards establishing and maintaining this 
enviable reputation. The Town is eminently adapted to insti- 
tutions of this kind, for, in addition to the excellence of the 
education they afford, the climate is extremely healthy, and 
the society as genial aud refined as any in the land. 

LUMBER. 

Even in the ' * Olden Times, ' ' and long before the applica- 
tion of steam-power to mechanical purposes, or the invention 
of machinery — as the word is now understood — Suffolk was 
famous all over the seaboard States, and at some foreign 
ports besides, as a depot and manufacturing point for this 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 



103 



i^reat product of the forest. The name "lumber" was used 
generically in those days, and comprised saw-logs, sawed and 
split timber, staves, shingles, laths, &c. — articles which it is 
becoming- customary to classify separately, applying the original 
and comprehensive term to only the issue of the saw-mill. For 
many years the principal feature of this trade in Suffolk was 
the preparation of juniper and cypress shingles in the Dismal 




THE r.AV MANl'FACri kl\(; COMI'AWS Ll^MBER MILL,— Sec pajje 105, 

Swamp, and their .shipment at Suffolk to the northern markets. 
Gradually thTs business dwindled away till it was almost aban- 
doned, and one of our most important industries seemed to 
have died out. The vital germ was still here, however, and 
during the past few years the Lumber interest has sprung uj> 
again with an activity which bids fiiir to atone for the time pre- 
viouslv lost in its dcvelopnicnt. Two railroads have been 



I04 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 

built mainly with a view to opening up the fine timber lands 
lying to the south of Suffolk, and between the Nansemond 
River and Albemarle Sound. In connection with these rail- 
roads several large saw-mills are in busy operation, and others, 
still larger, will shortly be constructed. These roads, moreover, 
will very soon be extended to convenient points on the Chowan 
River, passing through some of the finest lorest lands in the 
country, and affording access to an almost inexhaustible supply of 
excellent lumber. In addition to the saw^-mills above alluded to, 
we have large planing mills thoroughly equipped with modern 
improved machinery for the manufacture of door and window- 
frames, brackets, mouldings, and all other builders' materials 
contrived from wood. It is certain, also, that very few towns 
in the United States afford greater facilities for the profitable 
manufacture of lumber than Suffolk, for the obvious reason 
that, owing to the cheapness of land and labor, it could be sawed 
and dressed here and shipped to any part of the country, by land 
or water, ready for use, for much less money than it would 
cost to deliver it at the same point in its rough condition and 
manufacture it there. Now that the lumber trade has been 
revived here with so much energy and such splendid prospects, 
there are good grounds for predicting that it will attract outside 
brains and capital and achieve still greater things in the future. 
Including the two railroads chiefly devoted to its interests, the 
amount now engaged in this branch of industry centring in 
Suffolk cannot be far short of $1,000,006. 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. I05 

THE GAY MANUFACTURING COMPANY— LUMBER 
MANUFACTURERS. 

(See EnKiaviiiK on pa^e loj;.) 

Among the many enterprises which, during the })ast few 
years, have marked the revival of Suffolk's Trade and increased 
her commercial importance, the Gay Manufacturing Company, 
with its various present and prospective interests, may be justly 
regarded as occupying a foremost position. It was re-organized 
in April, i884, and is now one of the largest employers of 
labor in this and the adjoining counties. Its present officers 
are: W. N. Camp, President; Chas. F. Pitt, Jr. , Secretary; 
Geo. L. Barton, Treasurer; W. N. Camp, Chas. F. Pitt, Jr., 
John S. Gittings, S. P. Ryland, Jr., Chauncey Brooks and W. 
H. Bosley, Directors. The offices of the Company are at the 
Suffolk Mill, which is situated on the North side of the river, 
and occupies, with its lumber yard, an area of about five acres, 
having an extended river-front, with deep water, and ample 
wharfage accommodation for its enormous business. This mill 
alone has a daily capacity of 30,000 feet of lumber, and gives 
employment to about fifty hands. The logging business of the 
Company in this County (Nansemond) and in Czates County, 
N. C, employs as many more. The Company owns another 
mill near Cypress Chapel, Nansemond County, with a daily 
capacity of nearly 15,000 feet of lumber, where thirty-five 
hands are employed. In addition to these they control a 
smaller mill, in the same neighborhood, w itii a capacity of 
10,000 feet and an average of tvventy-fi\e hands. Their present 
business, therefore, turns out daily about 55,000 feet of lumber, 
besides large (luantities of fire- wood, and gixes steady employ- 



I06 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA, 



ment to over 150 hands. But this is not all. They are now 
erecting a new mill, near Sunbury, N. C, which will have a 
daily capacity of 60,000 feet of lumber and give work to 150 
hands. The Stearns Manufacturing Company, of Erie, Pa., 
have been awarded the contract for the machinery, which will 
be of the most approved kind and will comprise the great 
modern invention, Wilkins' Patent Balance Gang. The yield 
of this mill will come over the Suffolk & Carolina Railroad to 
Suffolk, which will be the distributing point of this whole 
immense business. The Gay Manufacturing Company has 
also purchased large tracts of fine timber land not only in Nan- 
semond but also in Gates, Chowan and Perquimans Counties, 
North Carolina, as well as the standing timber on other tracts. 
With abundant capital and long practical experience, a great 
future may safely be predicted for this enterprising Company, 
while there can be no question as to its beneficial and stimulat- 
ing influence upon the industrial and commercial interests of 
Suffolk. 

THE LOCAL PRESS. 

The first newspaper ever published here was the Suffolk 
Intelligencer, which made its appearance on the 4th of January, 
1849. John R. Kilby was its Editor and Proprietor and its 
political bias was favorable to the old Whig party and princi- 
ples. A year or two later David J. Goodwin launched the 
Southro7i, which was purchased in 1852 by A. W. Starke and 
became the Nansemo7id Enquirer. The District Republican 
was established in the same year (1852) by Richard L. Brew^er, 
with Ogilvie Byron Young as Editor. 

The Christian Sun, of which the Rev. W. B. Wellons was 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 



107 



Editor and Proprietor, was brought to Suffolk in 1855 from 
Raleigh, N. C, where it had been previously published. Dr. 
Wellons remained at its head till October, 1876, when it became 
the property of the Rev. J. T. Whidy and D. B. Dunbar, by 




II kis I I \\ (ill i<( II 



whom it was jointly edited. Mr. W'hitly was succeeded by the 
Rev. W. T. Walker, as Editor, tlu; ])aper becoming the prop- 
erty of Mr. Dunbar. The last named gentleman sold out to 
the Rev. J. P. Barrett, who took the i)aj)er back, in July, 1882. 
to Raleigh, N. C, where it is still published. 



I08 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



In December, 1879, the Examiner was established by 
Messrs. Briggs, Causey & Rawles, who continued its publica- 
tion for about thirteen months. 

The Suffolk Hei'ald \\r2iS founded on January ist, 1873, by 
Dr. Thomas E. Cropper, Editor and Proprietor. In the fol- 
lowing March it was purchased by Thomas G. Elam from Dr. 
Cropper, who, however, continued the editorial work until 
April nth, when Junius A. Coleman assumed editorial charge. 
On January ist, 1874, Mr. Elam became Editor, assisted by 
Mr. Coleman in the local department. A year later (January 
ist, 1875,) Mr. Elam sold a half interest in the Herald to Dr. 
James B. Campbell, and it was published for a year by Elam 
& Campbell. On January ist, 1876, Mr. Elam disposed of his 
entire interest to Dr. Campbell and E. E. Hathaway, by whom 
it was published for six months, when Mr. Elam bought back 
Dr. Campbell's interest, and the paper was published from that 
time (July ist, 1876,) by Elam & Hathaway, until January ist, 
1878, when the Herald became once more the sole property of 
Thomas G. Elam, who remained its Proprietor and Editor till 
January ist, 1886, on which date he sold out to J. E. Booker, 
who had been the Business Manager for the previous seven 
years, and is now the Editor and Proprietor, 

The Herald is now the only newspaper published in Suf- 
folk. It enjoys a large circulation throughout Nansemond and 
the adjoining counties, in both Virginia and North Carolina, and 
is widely esteemed as an excellent advertising medium. In 
politics it is entirely independent of party control, but its opin- 
ions are Democratic. In connection with the Herald is a large 
and well equipped Job Printing Office, which is under able 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. lOQ 



management and forms an important branch of the estabhsh- 
ment. 

CARRIACiE F'ACTORIES AND LIVERY STABLES. 

One of the tirst things noticed by an observant visitor to a 
strange town is the number and style of the vehicles moving 
upon its thoroughfares, and it may be stated, without boasting, 
that in this respect Suffolk will compare favorably with any 
other Southern Town. The reason for this is easily explained. 
Among our most enterprising citizens are the manufacturers of 
and dealers in Carriages, Buggies, Wagons and Harness, and 
the proprietors of the Livery, Sale and Exchange Stables. 
Every variety of equipage can be procured here, of the finest 
quality and at most reasonable prices, while the magnificent 
specimens of horse-flesh to be seen on our streets at all times 
have attracted the attention of dealers in distant parts of the 
country, and Suffolk horses are in demand even in New York. 
From $40,000 to $50,000 is engaged here in the Livery busi- 
ness, and the Carriage Factories, which also deal in Iron and 
Carriage Material of all kinds, employ about an equal sum. 
The Livery Stables are always well supplied with carriages, 
buggies and saddle horses for hire, as well as large assortments 
of horses and mules for sale and exchange. 

In regard to the special branches of trade now under 
review, the Town is remarkably fortunate and the most fastid- 
ious need not go beyond Suffolk to obtain a turn-out stylish 
enough for the Avenues of the Metropolis. 



no SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 

W. N.lvrcANGEV 

SUFFOLK, VA. 

PLANTER, PACKER AND SHIPPER OF 

FRESH OYSTERS 

PACKED IN EVERY STYLE 

AND SHIPPED IN ANY QUANTITIES FROM ONE 

TO ONE THOUSAND GALLONS. 



Facilities Unsurpassed in Virginia, 



Bushels Fine Old Plants on My Own 
Planting Grounds. 

The Express and Railroad Company's books show that I ship three- 
quarters of the entire Bulk of Oysters shipped from this point. I OWN 
MY OWN VESSELS AND PLANTING GROUNDS, thus giving my 
customers oysters direct from their native beds and guaranteeing them a 
full supply in all kinds of weather. 

Correspondence Solicited. No trouble to answer letters. 

W. N. MCAIMGE, 

Foot of Main Street, SuflTolk, Va. 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 



Ill 



OYSTER PACKING. 

This business which now occupies front rank in Suffolk's 
industrial enterprises, was inaugurated here, on a very small 
scale, about the year i860. Almost immediately afterwards the 
War between the States broke out, and the Oyster Trade was 
crushed in its infancy. But the experiment had proved most 
encouraging, and when peace was restored the business was 
revived by Mr. H. D. Cooper, Agent of the Seaboard & Roa- 
noke Railroad, who may be regarded as the pioneer Oyster 









ji^^!Sfvi^^/ 



W. N. McANGE'S OYSTER PACKING ESTABLISHMENT. 

Packer of Suffolk. In 1869 another establishment was founded. 
At this time the business was almost strictly confined to what 
is technically known as the "Bucket Trade" — that is, the 
oysters were opened here and shipped away in pails holding 
from two to ten gallons. As the demand increased the " Barrel 
Trade" came into vogue, and large quantities of oysters were 
shipped away in their shells — l)oth branches of the trade being 
now freely engaged in. The bulk of the Oyster Business of 



112 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 

Suffolk is in the hands of two houses, who, together, sometimes 
open as many as 65,000 bushels of oysters in a year. There 
are several small houses also engaged in the business, which 
swell the total annual capacity of the port to about 75,000 
bushels. This enormous yield is distributed far and near 
throughout the whole extent of the country, the ' * barrel trade ' ' 
going chiefly to Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore 
and other Northern markets, and the " bucket trade" supply- 
ing those of the Carolinas, Georgia, West Virginia, Kentucky, 
Tennessee, Ohio and Mississippi. The two large houses which 
control the trade own extensive oyster beds on the Nansemond 
River Flats, eighteen or twenty miles below the Town, the 
' ' plants ' ' being obtained from the famous beds of James 
River and Hampton Roads. These establishments own a large 
fleet of sloops, which are constantly engaged, during the 
season, in " tonging " the oysters from the beds and trans- 
porting them to the Suffolk warehouses, where they are opened 
or barrelled for final shipment. The shells are disposed of to 
be burnt and converted into agricultural lime. The Oyster 
Packing Trade of Suffolk employs a capital of about $50,000. 
As an oyster-depot, Suffolk possesses advantages over any 
other port in Virginia, for the reason that oysters can be pro- 
cured in the Nansemond River during the stormy seasons 
when Hampton Roads and Chesapeake Bay would be hardly 
navigable to small craft. 

BRICKS. 

Prior to 1883 the Brick manufacturing Industry in Suffolk 
was unimportant when compared with its present status. Up 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 




114 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 

to that time there was only one brick-yard in the neighborhood 
and its average yield did not exceed 300,000 bricks a year. Its 
methods were primitive and its products comparatively inferior. 
There are now two large ' ' mills ' ' engaged in the business and 
both are supplied with the best steam appliances and machinery. 
Their combined annual out-put is over 2,000,000 bricks, the 
quality of which is unsurpassed for excellence. Experts from 
Baltimore and elsewhere have pronounced the Suffolk clay to 
be as fine as they have, ever seen. The bricks manufactured 
here are mostly sold in this vicinity. They are worth from $7 
to $10 per thousand and have lately been in brisk demand con- 
sequent upon the large number of stores and residences going 
up to replace those destroyed by last year's conflagration, and 
the unusual amount of building in progress elsewhere in and 
arpund the Town. About $12,000 to $15,000 is engaged in 
this branch of industry, which also gives steady employment to 
about thirty men. It is the means of distributing a good deal 
of money among the neighboring farmers in the purchase of 
fire-wood, about 1,000 cords of which is consumed in the 
course of a year, besides many tons of coal. 

DRY GOODS, NOTIONS, CARPETS, &c. 

What pen, especially if it be of the masculine persuasion, 
shall attempt to depict the wonders of that "Woman's Para- 
dise," a first-class Dry Goods Store, a mere catalogue of 
whose ordinary stock would fill many a close-writ page! Let 
not the reader's heart be troubled, for the attempt is not about 
to be made. Suffice it to say that Suffolk can show as hand- 
some and well-stocked establishments devoted to this particular 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. II 5 



branch of merchandise as any town of double its size in Vir- 
ginia or elsewhere in the South. They carry large assortments 
of Dry Goods, Notions and other kindred commodities. The 
wholesale departments do a very satisfactory business which is 
mostly confined to this section of Virginia and North Carolina; 
but the area covered by this trade is gradually being extended. 
Most of our Dry Goods houses are also supplied with full lines 
of Carpets, of all descriptions and the products of all lands, as 
well as mats, rugs, druggets, and other similar wares. All 
their goods are guaranteed not to exceed Northern prices. 
The capital engaged m the Dry Goods Trade, and those 
affiliated with it. is necessarily very large, and the sales for the 
year 1885 are estimated to have reached $250,000 or $300,000. 

GROCERIES AND GENERAL MERCHANDISE. 

Suffolk is conservative enough to adhere to many a tnne- 
honored custom, among which is that of combining the grocery 
trade with what might be called general merchandise; that is to 
say, the customer who visits a .store to purchase sugar or coffee 
or flour can usually be suited at an adjoining counter with 
clothing, hats, boots and shoes, hardware, and almost anything 
else he may need for ordinary domestic purposes — and vice 
versa. The dealers in general merchandise are also, to some 
extent, commission merchants, and receive large quantities ol 
grain, bacon and other country produce for sale, or in exchange 
for other goods. An open account is frequently kept by the 
neighboring planter with the general merchant, who adxances 
what goods, fertilizers and money may be required by his cus- 
touK'r from harxest to harvest. It will i)c seen that ronsideni- 



Il6 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 

ble capital is required to carry on a business of this kind, and 
it is estimated that nearly $250,000 is employed in it by our 
General Merchants, than whom a more sound, solvent and 
successful body of business men, in proportion to the popula- 
tion they supply and the amount of capiial involved, cannot be 
found elsewhere in the South. The Merchandise Broker is affiil- 
iated with and auxiliary to the grocery trade, and the Suffolk 
representative of this class deals directly with the leading houses 
of Chicago, Cincinnati, New York, Boston and Philadelphia, 
on specially advantageous terms. 

FERTILIZERS. 

During the past few years the demand for fertilizers has 
been far in excess of the supply of natural guano and manure, 
and has led to its manufacture on a \'ery large scale. In the 
newly and sparsely settled Territories of the West, where the 
land has been under cultivation for a comparatively short period, 
the need of an artificial stimulus to the soil has as yet been little 
felt, but in the East it has become indispensable. The ground 
has been tilled by succeeding generations until its nourishing 
power is exhausted and requires periodical and systematic 
renewing to render it once more fertile and productive. Espe- 
cially is this the case in Eastern Virginia, the Carolinas and 
other States where the "trucking" business is extensively car- 
ried on, and where cotton, peanuts, grain and tobacco are the 
staple crops. The richest soil can only supply a certain limited 
amount of nutrition to the vegetation it sustains, and when that 
nutrition has been exhausted by overcropping it must be 
restored, either by the slow process of natural recuperation or 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. II 7 



else by such artificial means as science may suggest and expe- 
rience appro\'e. The latter alternative obviously commends 
itself to the practical planter and farmer, and the result is that 
artificial fertilizers are now in almost universal use among agri- 
culturalists in the Eastern States. ' ' Shell lime, ' ' which is 
prepared by simply burning and pulverizing oyster shells, is 
manufactured here in large quantities, and is a valuable though 
inexpensive aid in restoring to the impoverished soil its original 
elements of plant-food. Special crops, however, are found to 
need special treatment, and various brands of fertilizers and 
guano mixtures ha\'e been formulated to meet the peculiar 
requirements of each. Horticulturalists, florists and the 
owners of private conservatories also find the use of these mix- 
tures to be of the greatest advantage; and every lady whose 
hyacinths and other house plants bear testimony to her own 
refined taste, while enhancing the charms of her already attrac- 
tive ' ' establishment, ' ' would do well to study the effects of 
these artificial assistants in her own household. 

FURNITURE, &c. 

This trade, combined with that of Undertaking, has 
assumed much importance in vSuffolk of late years, and now 
employs a cash capital of about $15,000. Our furniture ware- 
rooms contain large and varied assortments of stock, and 
every taste and every pocket can be suited, at factory prices, 
whether the articles be required for parlor, dining-room, 
chamber, office or school. The people of Nansemond and the 
adjoinmg counties of Virginia and North Carolina find this a 
mo.st advantageous market at which to make their j)urchases. 



Il8 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 

and each year brings increased business to our dealers. Here, 
as in other places, there is occasionally to be met with a man 
who refuses to acknowledge genuine excellence unless he has 
himself imported it from some distant market, but experience 
has taught the great majority of consumers that it is more 
economical, as well as infinitely more satisfactory, to deal with 
merchants whom they know personally and meet every day — 
reliable and responsible business men — who are always accessi- 
ble when, through some accident or unsuspected flaw, a 
guarantee would have to be made good. 

DRUGS, PAINTS AND OILS. 

The business done in these important commodities in Suf- 
folk is much more considerable than would be supposed by the 
uninitiated, and employs in the aggregate a capital of about 
$35,000. The stocks kept by the establishments engaged in 
this branch of trade are large and varied, and our druggists 
have earned a wide and honorable reputation through the 
excellence of the goods they supply as well as through the 
agency of certain "specialties" which are put up in Suffolk. 
Besides Drugs, Paints and Oils, our wholesale houses carry 
full lines of Window Glass, Perfumery, Spices, Seeds, Patent 
Medicines, Fancy and Toilet Articles, and numerous other 
goods not strictly akin to Pharmacy, to-wit: Tobacco, Cigars, 
Cigarettes, Books, Stationery, Doors, Sash, Blinds, Cement, 
Hardware, etc. Our principal wholesale drug trade is carried 
on with South- Eastern Virginia and North Carolina, while 
other and more distant States have been made familiar with 
Suffolk's enterprise in this line. 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. I I9 

HAY, GRAIN, LIME, COAL AND ICE. 

The central position occupied by Suffolk, with her unsur- 
passed transportation facilities by land and water, renders her 
an important depot and distributing" point for the commodoties 
embraced by the above rather comprehensi\'e heading. We 
are in direct railroad communicaition not only with the rich 
agricultural counties of Virginia and North Carolina, but also 
with the famous coal-fields of this and the adjoining States, 
tv'hich insures to us a cheap and abundant supply oi " the fruits 
of the earth" — above and below ground. The oysters of 
Nansemond River furnish large quantities of shells which are 
here burnt and converted into agricultural lime. Ice also is 
imported from the famous rivers of Maine in large quantities 
and re-shipped to points along the lines of the railroads cen- 
tring at Suffolk. In addition to the articles above enumerated, 
our dealers handle plaster, cement and other builders' mate- 
rials, besides strawy oats, mill feed, etc. These trades, separate 
and combined, are in the hands of experienced and trustworthy 
firms, with plenty of capital to conduct and expand their busi- 
ness according to the opportunities legitimately offered. 

BOOKS, STATIONERY, PIANOS, Sac. 

This important and comprehensive business is here con- 
trolled by competent and enterprising gentlemen, fully qualified 
to conduct it upon principles commensurate with its inherent 
dignity. In our Hook and Stationery Stores, besides a well 
selected assortment of standard literature. School Books, Blank 
Books, Plain and P\mcy Paper and such other articles as are 
in every-day use by cultivated people, are also to be found a 



I20 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 

choice variety of Paintings, Engravings, Photographs, Artists' 
SuppHes, Sheet Music, and a host of other commodities which 
may be grouped under the term "fancy." A Circulating 
Library, well supplied with selected works by the best authors, 
has recently been established, and will doubtless prove a source 
of much amusement and instruction to all classes of our citi- 
zens. Combined with the Book and Stationery business, is that 
of Pianos aud Organs, and our dealers can furnish instruments 
from the most famous factories in the country on exceptionally 
favorable terms. 

MISCELLANEOUS TRADES AND PROFESSIONS. 

In the preceding pages special attention has been directed, 
under distinctive headings, to the leading branches of trade 
and industry engaged in by the manufacturing and mercantile 
classes of Suffolk, and it must be admitted that not only does 
the present condition of her affairs make a most creditable 
showing, but also that her existing advantages are in a fair way 
to become considerably augmented and that her future is rich 
in promises of continually increasing prosperity — promises 
which will certainly be redeemed, provided the people remain 
faithful to themselves and to their traditions. In addition to 
the more prominent subjects already reviewed, there are others, 
too numerous for separate classification, and yet too productive 
of good in their combined influence upon the community to 
justify their being passed by without mention. The builders 
and contractors of the Town have erected, on all sides, hand- 
some monuments to their skill; the windows and show-cases of 
our jewelers present a most attractive display of watches, 



ITS PEOPLE AND llS IKADi:. 



121 



clocks, g'old and silverware, and such other articles as pertain to 
their special department of trade; such goods as china and glass- 
ware are to be found in great \'ariety and at as low prices as in 
the Northern cities; the photographic artists turnout first-class 
work in all styles; while the representatives of all other trades 
not specially referred to, contribute, each in his particular 
sphere, their quota towards the general prosjjeritv of the Town. 




M:\V stoke 01-" DARDEX & ELEV AND JOSJCPH I*. \Vi:i',H. 

The professional men, too — lawyers, doctors and dentists — 
present an array of talent which any community might well be 
proud of, and exercise in a conspicuous degree, that influence 
for good which their sui)eri()r attainments ha\c placed at tiieir 
command. In short, for a Town ol its size and pojjulalion 
there cannot be found one anywhere in whi( h the people are 
more ali\e to their own highest interests, and in which the 



122 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



necessaries, comforts and luxuries of life, in all conceivable 
forms, are more easily obtainable than they are in Suffolk, and 
no other Town offers greater inducements to honest capital and 
honest labor. 

> 

SUMMARY. 

The scenery around Suffolk is naturally tame and unro- 
mantic, but its deficiencies in grandeur are more than atoned 
for by the unmistakable evidences of thrift and industry, energy 
and enterprise, which meet the eye on all sides, as it wanders 
over the rich and highly cultivated farms with their fertile 
fields, fruitful vineyards, teeming orchards and comfortable 
homesteads. 

The people of Suffolk are essentially "go-ahead." Their 
sense of local pride prompts them to emulate, in theory and 
practice, the best qualities of larger populations. Their residences 
are the perfection of neatness and refined taste, while many of 
their principal streets are gracefully arched by ornamental shade 
trees. The circumjacent country is rich, and the farmers live 
well and spend thc-ir money freely. As a natural consequence 
the merchants keep full lines of goods according to the nature 
of their respective trades, and all kinds of merchandise may be 
purchased here on as good terms as in Richmond or Baltimore. 

The total bonded debt of Suffolk amounts to $7,000, 
which is pehaps as small as that of any town in the South with 
a population of three thousand. The taxes also are unusually 
low, being 71 cents per $100, divided as follows: for general 
municipal purposes, 55 cents; poor rate, 10 cents; public 
schools, 6 cents; total, 71 cents. The questions of public 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 



123 



debt and taxation arc of peculiar importance to j)ersons medi- 
tating- a change oi" residence and on the look-out for a locality 
which combines comparatixe exemption from compulsory 
assessment with other material ad\'antages, and to readers of 
this class the above information is specially commended. ' 

It would be easy to extend the catalogue of Suffolk's 
attractions indefinitely, and still not tell the half ; b-ut the design 







Sl'FFOLK STATION Ol- THi: SI'.AI'.OARn .S: KOAXOKIC RAII.R(V\I). 

of this little Ski:ic H Hook is to interest, not wear)', the reader, 
and if this result be attained, the foregoing narrative will not 
have been written in \ ain. Should it fall into the hands of any 
seeker after a home possessing such undeniable a<l\antages as 
Suffolk offers, and its jjcrusal should lem|)l him to inxestigate 
its accuracy in person, he may rely upon a cordial X'irginia wel- 
cr)me at tlie hands of ;i11 ('l;t<«'; of this ho^pitrtl*!*- (■•tninninil \- 



124 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT JUNE, 1886. 

Mayor — E. E. Holland. Office on Bank Street, next to 
the Armory. 

Ti^easiirer — ^J. M. Caulk. 

Sergeant — R. R. Smith. 

Commissioner of the Revenue — E. B. Britt. 

Overseer of the Poor — ^J. F. Lotzia. 

Street Commissioner — E. Tatterson. 

Clerk oftlie Market-^. R. McGiiirc. 



TOWN COUNCIL. 

President — Wilbur J. Kilby. 
Clerk— Dr. Wm. W. Murray. 

Councilmen — H. T. Artman, James R. Baker, R. L. 
Brewer, R. H. Brinkley, J. B. Pinner. 

The Council meets on the first Friday night in each month. 



COUNTY OFFICERS. 

S]ieriff—]o\\\\ L. Fulgham. 
Treasurer — H. E. Smith. 

Commissioners of Revenue — F. W. Hunter and J. T. 
Johnson. 

Supt. of Public Schoo/s—W.'S. Kilby. 
Commissioner of Accounts — C. H. CauscY. 
Surveyor — B. P. Baker. 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 1 25 



THE COURTS. 

The Circuit Court for the F^irst Circuit meets at Suffolk 
on April loth and October loth. 
Judge — Hon. George Blow, Jr. 

Clerk — Peter B. Prentis. 

Commonivealtli s Attorney — C. H. Causey. 

The County Court for the County of Nansemond meets 
at Suffolk on the second Monday in each month. 

Judoe — Hon. Wilbur J. Kilby. 

Clerk — Peter B. Prentis. 

ComvwnweaWi s Attoi^ney — C. H. Causey. 



THE MAYORS OF SUFFOLK. 

Prior to 1852, the Town had been governed, since its 
incorporation, by a Board of Trustees. In the year above 
named, Richard L. Brewer was elected First Mayor of Suffolk, 
and re-elected in 1854. He served as Chief Magistrate of the 
Municipality for four years, and was succeeded in 1856 by 
Thomas S. Shepherd, who hlled the office for two years. In 
1858 John (i. Pinner was elected, and served till July ist, i860, 
when the government of the Town was assumed by Benjamin 
Riddick, who continued in office during the four years of the 
Ci\'il War. After the cessation of hostilities, and while " recon- 
struction " was the order of the day, there was no organized 
Town Government until July ist, 1871, when C. W. Lassi- 
ter was elected to the mayoralty and served one year. Thomas 
G. Elam served from July ist, 1872, to July ist, 1873; John 
R. Cojx'lanrl. from Julv ist, 187;^. to July ist. 1874, and 



126 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



Nathaniel Riddick from July ist, 1874, to July 1st, 1875, at 
which date Benjamin Riddick — the " War Mayor " — was again 
elected and filled the office continuously for eight years. He 
was succeeded on July ist, 1883, by Robert R. Prentis, who 
served for two years, being followed on July ist, 1885, by 
E. E. Holland, the present incumbent. 



GUIDE TO THE CHURCHES. 



PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL. 

St Paul's: Rev. Douglas Hooff, Rector. Services: First 
and Third Sundays of each month at 1 1 A. M., 'Second and 
Fourth Sundays at 8 P. M., and every Wednesday at 8 P. M. 
Sunday School every Sunday at 9 A. M. 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL. 

Main Street Church: Rev. J. F. Twitty, Pastor. Services: 
Every Sunday at 11 A. M. and 8 P. M., and every Wednesday 
at 8 -P. M. Sunday School every Sunday at 9 A. M. 

CHRISTIAN. 

Main Street Church : Rev. W. W. Staley, Pastor. Ser- 
vices : Every Sunday at 11 A. M. and 8 P. M., and every 
Wednesday at 8 P. M. Sunday School every Sunday at 9 
A. M. 

PRESBYTERIAN. 

Bank Street Chuixh : No regular Pastor. Young Men's 
Union Prayer Meeting every Sunday afternoon at 4 o'clock, to 
which the public are invited. 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 1 27 

BAPTIST. 

Maiyi Street Church: Rev. Samuel Saunders, Pastor. 
Services: Every Sunday, except the second Sunday of each 
month, at II A. M. and 8 P. M., and every Wednesday at 
8 P. M. Sunday School every Sunday at 9 A. M. 

Y. M. C. A. 

Room's hi Smith's Block, corner East Washington and 
Riddick Streets. 

Officers: President,-^ , E. Hines; Vice-Preside7tts, R. H. 
Morgan, John H. Wright, Joseph P. Webb, John Monell, Dr. 
W. \\\ Murray; Secretary, Dr. A, W, Eley; Treasurer, A. A. 
Riddick, 



MILITARY ORGANIZATION. 



The Suffolk Greys, 

Captain, George T, Parker. First Lieut., li F. Cutchin, 

Second Lieut,, J. F. Lotzia. 
Orderly Sergeant, W, L. Daughtrey, 



Q. M. 


* C. Jones. 


3rd 


C, W. Wright. 


4th 


* Hersey Woodward, 


5th 


Burwell Riddick. 


6th 


* E, Tatterson. 


I St Corporal, 


Jesse Harrell. 


2d 


J. C, Smith. 


3d " 


James Walters, 


4th 


Benj. Dumville, 



128 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 

Drill every Friday night at their Armory on Bank street. 
Business meeting every second Friday night, and street drill 
every fourth Friday. 



SECRET AND BENEVOLENT ORDERS. 



A., F. AND A. MASONS, 

Right Worshipful John F. Lotzia, District Deputy Granp 
Master. 

Suffolk Lodge, No. 30: — Meets on the fourth Monday 
night in each month. Dr. A. W. Eley, Master; Benjamin 
Riddick, Secretary. 

Mount Nebo Royal Arch Chapter: — Meets on the second 
Tuesday night in each month. James R. Baker, High Priest; 
E. B, Britt, Secretary. 

KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS. 

Welcome Lodge, No. 50: — Meets every Thursday night. 
Wm, H. Jones, Jr, , Chancellor Commander; E, B, Britt, 
Keeper of Records and Seals, 

KNIGHTS OF HONOR. 

Nansemond Lodge, No, 2090: — Meets on the second and 
fourth Tuesday nights in each month, John H. Wright, 
Dictator; Benjamin Dumville, Reporter. 

AMERICAN LEGION OF HONOR. 

Ruth Council, No. 456: — Meets on the first and third 
Tuesday nights in each month. Dr. E. D. Phillips, Com- 
mander; E. B. Britt, Secretary. 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 1 29 



FRIENDS OF TEMPERANCE. 

Suffolk Council, No. 8; — Meets every Monday nig^ht. R. 
L. Brewer, Jr., Pre.sident; Lee Britt, Secretary. 



SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS. 



THE SUFFOLK PHILHARMONIC ASSOCIATION, 

This organization, not yet a year old, has already attracted 
a good deal of notice among the music-loving people of this 
section, by reason of the fine individual and collective talent it 
possesses, and the excellent state of cultivation and training'- 
attained by its members in so brief a period. This latter 
quality is due chiefly to the skill, zeal and perseverance of its 
able founder and conductor. Professor George W. Scott, 
Teacher of Vocal Music at the Suffolk Female Institute, 
himself a vocalist of high merit and well known to Virginian 
audiences. Professor Scott's "specialty" — if the term be 
admissible — consists in organizing and conducting choruses, 
and it is therefore not to be wondered at that the Philharmonic 
Chorus, which numbers about fifty voices, should have achieved 
marked success under his direction. At the recent Music 
Festival of Virginia and North Carolina, held at Petersburg, 
the Suffolk chorus made its first pul)lic apj)earance away from 
home, and secured the warm appro\'al of the a.ssembled critics. 
The officers of the Association are: James R. Baker, Presi- 
dent; Capt. John H. Wright, Vice-President; Lee Britt, Secre- 
tary; Millard Pinner, Treasurer, Oeorge W. Scott, Conductor 
and Chairman nf Committee on Music. 



130 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 

THE SUFFOLK GYMNASIUM. 

The object of this organization, as its name impHes, is to 
afford pleasant recreation and healthy exercise to its members 
— active and honorary — and then- friends. Its officers are: 
E. A. Thomas, President; H. E. Elam, Secretary; J. H. 
Butler, Treasurer. A year ago the Gymnasium organized a 
brass band of thirteen instruments from among its members, 
which promises to attain considerable proficiency after a little 
more practice. Professor J, D. Daughtrey is the instructor of 
the band, and E. A. Thomas its leader. 

THE SUFFOLK STRING BAND 

is another musical society from which much sweet melody is 
expected in the future. It has only very recently been formed 
under the instruction of Prof. J. D. Daughtrey, the leading 
bow being wielded by Mr. W. J. Wright. 



BIOGRAPHICAL MEMORANDA. 



The following brief sketches are published without the 
least reference to any personal benefit or gratification they may 
confer. Their subjects have been selected by the author, (after 
consultation with several of those older residents of Suffolk 
who, in his judgment, were the most likely to be well-informed, ) 
as among those who have been conspicuously instrumental in 
advancing the social, moral and commercial welfare of the 
Town, and whose names are therefore justly entitled to be 
identified with its history. 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 13I 



[A1.PHAI5KTRALI.V ARRANGED.] 

James K. Baker is a native of Nansemond County. 
He came to Suffolk in 1870, and has resided here ever since. 
His first experience in business was gained in the store of B. F. 
Cutchin & Co., where he served as clerk for three years. His 
next situation was with Hines & Lotzia, with whom he remained 
till January ist, 1874, when he began business on his own 
account, in partnership with Joseph Boothe, President of the 
Farmers' Bank, under the firm name of Boothe & Baker. 
This partnership was dissolved in 1880 by the death of Mr. 
Boothe. Mr. Baker purchased his late partner's mterest, and 
has from that time remained alone. His business is that of 
wholesale and retail dealer in dry goods, notions, &c., and his 
success has been almost phenomenal. A year ago his store 
and stock were destroyed by the great fire, which swept away 
the business centre of the Town. Mr. Baker, with character- 
istic enterprise, was one of the first to rebuild, and his present 
magnificent store would not disgrace Baltimore or Philadel- 
phia. He carries a stock valued at $40,000 to $50,000, and 
his trade extends 50 miles from the Town in all directions. He 
is a liberal, acti\'e and practical man of business, and has done 
much in various ways to j^romote the interests of the Town. 
Mr. Baker is a director of the Farmers' Bank. 

Captain John C. Colioon was born in Nansemond 
County, near Sufiblk, in 1789, and, like his father, (leneral 
John C. Cohoon, was, during a long and useful life, closely 
identified with the public interests of the County and^ State. 
In 1 810, before he had attained his majority. Captain Cohoon 
was elected to represent Nansemond County in the (leneral 
Assembly of Virginia, and served in this iaj)acity for several 
terms. He was distinguished throughout this part of the 
country as a courtly. honorai)le and hosi)ital)le rei)resentative 
of Virginia's ancient aristocracy, and was highly esteemed by 
all classes of the romnumitv. I'^t manv vears he was a 



132 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 

Magistrate and Presiding Justice of this district — a position 
which he filled with dignity and uprightness till the time of his 
death, which occurred in August, 1863, at the age of 74 years. 

Col. John R. Copelaild was born in this County on 
November nth, 181 1, and throughout his long life has been 
identified with the public interests of Nansemond and Suffolk. 
For over thirty years he filled the offices of Justice of the Peace 
and Overseer of the Poor. During the Civil War he was 
Colonel of the 59th Regiment, Virginia Militia, and Captain of 
a volunteer company of riflemen. In 1870 he was appointed 
Cashier of the Farmers' Bank of Nansemond, of which he is 
now the President, having been elected to that position in 1884. 
Col. Copeland has always been regarded as one of Suffolk's 
most prominent and public-spirited citizens, and has done much 
to further the prosperity of the Town. 

Henry D. Cowijer and Capt. G. W. Sing^leton. 

These two gentlemen are mentioned conjointly for the reason 
that their claims to be regarded as the founders and pioneers 
of the Suffolk Oyster Packing Trade, which has of late years 
assumed such imposing- proportions, are nearly equal. In 
i860, Mr. Cowper, who was the Agent at this point of the 
Seaboard & Roanoke Railroad, had just conceived the idea of 
opening oysters in large quantities for shipment to distant 
markets, and had already begun experimental operations, when 
the War broke out and put a stop to this and all other kindred 
industries. In 1866 he returned to the charge, with equal 
faith but diminished capital, in conjunction with Captain Single- 
ton, and had succeeded in building up a considerable trade, in 
spite of impaired health, when death overtook him in 1872. 
Captain Singleton continued the business with increasing suc- 
cess, and was the first man to ship oysters beyond the bounda- 
ries of Virginia. In 1880 he admitted W. N. McAnge to 
partnership, and sold out his interest in 1884, immediately 
before his death, to the last named gentleman, who now repre- 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 1 33 



sents one of the largest and most important industries con- 
ducted in Suffolk. 

John Uichardsoii Kilby was a native of Hanover 
County, \'a., where he was born on the last day of the year 
1 819. At the age of 14. having in the meantime removed to 
this County, he obtained a position as assistant in the County 
Clerk's Office, and a few years later was appointed Deputy 
Sheriff. In 1845 ^^^ began the practice of law, which he pur- 
sued with distinction until the date of his death, December 5th, 
1878, having been assisted, during his later years, by his son 
and partner, Wilbur J. Kilby, now County Court Judge for 
Nansemond County. Mr. Kilby represented the County in the 
General Assembly of Virginia of 185 1-' 52 and '53, and served 
as an Elector of the State. He was also a member of the 
State Convention of 1861 w^hich passed the Ordinance of 
Secession, and was entrusted with the discharge of various 
other public duties which earned for him an honorable eminence 
not only in Tidewater Virginia but also beyond the limits of his 
nati\-e State. For some years he vvas President of the Board 
of Trustees of the Wesleyan Female College at Murfreesboro, 
North Carolina. Several members of his family still reside in 
Suffolk. 

J0I111 Franklin Pinner was born in May, 1816, in 
this County and removed to Suffolk in 1837. Prior to the 
War he followed the mercantile business, and at its conclusion 
turned his attention to Real Estate, in which he has been a 
prominent and successful dealer. He has been the means of 
mducing many settlers to come here by providing them with 
attractive homes. New Town was entirely opened by Mr. 
Pinner, after whom Franklin and Pinner Streets were named. 
Many of our hTest and most useful citizens are now located upon 
lots which were formerly Mr. Pinner's property. He still owns 
a good deal of land in and around vSuffolk, and is continually 
making imj^rovements. He has alwavs been energetic and 



134 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 



public-spirited, and his name is closely identified with the growth 
and prosperity of the Town. 

Peter Bowdoill Preiltis was born in Suffolk on the 
5th of April, 1820, and is the oldest native resident of the 
Town. In 1851, he succeeded his father, Joseph Prentis (the 
Second) as Clerk of the Circuit and County Courts, which 
position he has filled almost continuously to the present time, 
except from 1873 to 1875, when he served as Judge of the 
County Court. Judge Prentis is grandson of the Joseph 
Prentis who was Speaker of the House of Delegates after the 
Revolutionary War and Judge of the Courts of Virginia. The 
representati\'es of three successive generations have thus ren- 
dered distinguished public service, and the name has been 
associated, since the first decade of this century, with the 
moral and material advancement of Suffolk. 

John Everard Purdie. This gendeman, although 
neither a native of Suffolk nor a resident of the Town for any 
very long period, is, nevertheless, Suffolk's "oldest inhabi- 
tant, "from the standpoint of " the multitude of years," having 
been born at Smithfield, in the adjoining County of Isle of 
Wight, in September, 1802, and having therefore almost com- 
pleted his 84th year. In former days Mr. Purdie was a ship- 
owner and carried on a considerable trade between the West 
Indies and Philadelphia. For many years he has been asso- 
ciated with the Town and community, having married a Suffolk 
lady, but he has only made this his permanent abode within 
the last decade. He is still young, hale and hearty, and sup- 
plies, in his own person, incontrovertible testimony to the 
wonderful salubriousness of this favored climate. 

Beiljaillill Kiddick was born in this County in Sep- 
tember, 1 8 10, and in 1822 came with his parents to Suffolk, 
which has been his home continuously ever since that date. 
The oldest surviving native resident, Judge Peter B. Prentis, 
was still a helpless infant when young Riddick, a strapping boy 



ITS PEOPLE AND ITS TRADE. 1 35 

of 12, first made his appearance here. Since his maturity Mr. 
Riddick's Hfe has been spent, ahiiost without intermission, in 
the pubHc service. Beginning as an assistant in the Clerk's 
Office, he rose, step by step, in the esteem and confidence of 
his fellow citizens and has at various times filled the offices of 
Sheriff of the County, Clerk of the Circuit and County 
Courts, County Treasurer, Magistrate, Commissioner of the 
Revenue and Mayor of Suffolk, which latter position he held 
during the war and for eight years subsequently. He it was 
who surrendered the Town to Col Dodge's New York Cavalry 
on May 12th, 1862. when the latter rode in unopposed after 
the evacuation of the district by the Confederate troops. By 
his moderation and judicious demeanor towards the in\'aders, 
Mayor Riddick secured for the citizens immunity from many of 
the sterner restrictions to which they would otherwise ha\'e 
been subjected, and protected them from many a cruel hard- 
ship. One instance of the confidence reposed in him by the 
F'ederal commanders may be cited. Col. George Stone was left 
here with a strong guard to protect the negroes, and the Mayor 
was simultaneously appointed by the Court on behalf of the 
citizens. The two acted in concert, and Mr. Riddick's honor- 
able conduct so impressed his coadjutor, that the latter left the 
Town after placing his men, and the interests they were there 
to protect, under the Mayor's absolute authority. It is need- 
less to say that this mark of confidence was faithfully respected. 
Mr. Riddick is still a Magistrate, and devotes mucli of his 
spare time to the reclamation and beautifying of Cedar Hill 
Cemetery. 

Col. Tlionias W. Smith is a native of Nansemond 
County, and moved to Sufiolk when still a youth. He engaged 
in the mercantile business, first iis a clerk and afterwards as a 
princij)al, until X'irginia joined the secession movement in 1S61 , 
He served in the Confederate States Army during the entire 
period of hostilities, and was thrice wounded. After General 



136 SKETCH BOOK OF SUFFOLK, VA. 

Lee's surrender, Col. Smith returned to Suffolk and resumed 
his former business, which he continued till 1882. Since that 
time he has been an extensive dealer in peanuts and other pro- 
duce, and in real estate. He has erected several stores and 
residences in different parts of the Town, including dwelling 
houses for the operatives of the Suffolk Manufacturing Compa- 
ny's Cotton Mill, of which he is the superintendent and a stock 
holder. He now holds a commission as Lieut-Colonel of the 
4th Virginia Infantry (Volunteers.) 

Rev. William Brock Welloiis, D. D., was born 
in Sussex County, Va., November 9th, 1821. In 1845, at the 
age of 24, was received as a licentiate in the Eastern Virginia 
Christian Conference and authorized to preach the Gospel. A 
year later he became an Elder, and was from that day the 
acknowledged leader of his Church. In 1850 he came to Suf- 
folk, where he settled and spent the remainder of his active 
and useful life. An accomplished scholar and Christian gentle- 
man, he soon exercised a powerful influence of good upon the 
community. He was the founder and editor of the Christian 
Sun, which was published in Suffolk from 1855 till 1882, when 
it was transferred to Raleigh, N. C, where it still flourishes. 
He also established the Suffolk Collegiate Institute, which still 
lives and prospers. He was also the pastor of the Suffolk 
Christian Church and of Bethlehem Church at the time of his 
death, which occurred here on February i6th, 1877. He was 
a warm and consistent champion of the Temperance cause, as 
of every other movement calculated to promote the public 
welfare and elevate the public morals. He was beloved and 
respected by all classes, and a beautiful marble shaft, "Erected 
by his many friends," marks the resting place of his mortal 
remains in Willow Hill Cemetery, Suffolk. 



GODTEDTS 



GENERAL SUBJECTS. 



r 

Agrioiilturul 

Attractive Homes 

Bullad/'They made her a grave" 

Banking 

" Benn's Churcii, " 

Biographical Memoranda 

Books and Stationery 

B ricks 

Burning of Suffolk by the British 

Carpets, A:c 

Carriage Factories, &c 

Churches, Guide to the 

Coal and Ice... 

County Ollicers 

Con rts, The 

Descriptive 

Diary of Joseph Prentis 

Dividing Ijine, 'I'hc 

Divihion of V^irginia into Shires, 

Dry Goods, Notions, &c 

Drugs, Paints and Oils 

Ivirly SuHblk Enterprise 

Educational Advantages 

Fatal Railri)ad Accidents 

Ferti 1 i/ers 

First Printing Press, 'I'he 

Furniture, &v 

(ray Manutactuiing Co., The.... 
General Merchandise 



11 

U7 

54 

100 



l:^() 
ll'.» 
11-2 
26 
\\4 
KM) 
l-iO 

no 

124 
12;") 

(•.2 

IM 

lo 

114 

118 

102 
(•.;{ 

11(5 
<i7 
117 
10.-. 
I I.-. 



I'age 

General Produce 78 

Geographical ('» 

Great Fire of 1887, The (12 

Groceries 1 1-'. 

Guide to the Churches 12G 

Hay, Gi'ain and Lime *, 110 

Historical 14 

Ineidentof 1S12 84 

I nsuraneci 1 00 

La Fayette's \'i,sir ')() 

Lake Drummond 51 

" Lake of the Dismal Swamj)," .54 

Last Great Fire, The '.)4 

Livery Stables.. 101) 

Local Press. The Km; 

Lumber 102 

Mayors of Sulfolk, The 12') 

Military Organization 127 

Miscellaneous Trades I20 

M u n i ci pal 22 

Municipal (Jovernnient, The 124 

Nansemond ('Ounty Set Apart... 18 

Nat 'i'nrner's Lisnirrection .')8 

Oyster 1 *ack i ng Ill 

"Peace, Gentle Peace," 8(1 

Pianos and Organs 1 1'.t 

Pork and Bacon 7') 

I'rentis, Joseph, Diary o\' t)2 

Professions 120 



137 



13^ 



CONTENTS. 



Page 

Railroad Facilities 78 

Railroad vs. Turnpike 70 

Religious Growth 71 

Sanitary 10 

Secret and Benevolent Orders... 128 

Shingle Trade, The 71 

Siege of Suffolk, The 84 

Social Organizations 129 

Suffolk & Carolina R. R., The... 91 



Page 

Suffolk Enterprise, Early 39 

Suffolk Manuring Co., The 98 

Summary 122 

Tar and Turpentine 75 

"The Late tJnpleasantness,"... 83 

Town Council, The 124 

Transportation Lines 87 

Wooden Money 74 

" Up-hill Work," 70 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 



Page 
Artman, H. T. & Son's Factory. 41 
Baker, Jaraes R.'s New Store.... 13 

"Benn's Church" 35 

Blue Ridge Springs 69 

Bradshaw, Gum & Co.'s Mill 21 

Christian Church, The 107 

Cotton Mill of Suffolk M'f 'g Co. 99 
Court House and Clerk's Office.. 15 

Darden & Eley'a New Store 121 

Dunn, S. R.'s Office 89 

Farmers Bank of Nansemond... 25 
Gay Manufacturing Co.'s Mill. ..103 

Hall & Holt's New Store 29 

Jones & Bro.'s Wharf 45 

Jones, W. H. Jr.'s, Residence... 23 

Lake Kilby 31 

Main Street, View on 95 

Map of Suffolk and Vicinity 113 

Methodist Episcopal Church 19 

McAnge, W. N.'s Wharf Ill 

New Water Works 31 



Page 
Nurney, George W.'a Stables... 33 
Residence of Wm. H. Jones, Jr., 23 
Residence of Dr. F. W. Skiles... 63 

Residence of E. Tatterson 43 

River Front Property of Suffolk 

& Carolina Railroad 91 

Seaboard & Roanoke R.R. St'n..l23 
Skiles, Dr. F. W.'s Residence... 63 

"Smith's Block'' 27 

Suffolk Collegiate Institute 57 

Suffolk Female Institute 59 

"Suffolk Herald" Office 49 

Suffolk M'f 'g Co.'s Cotton Mill.. 99 
Suffolk Mil'y Acad'y. ...Frontispiece 

Tatterson, E.'s Resiaence 4S 

Washington Square 7 

Webb, Joseph P.'s New Store. ..121 
Weidenfeld, Frank's New Store. 37 
Whaley & Rider's Warehouse... 65 
Where the Fire was stopped on 

Main Street 95 



ANNOUNCEMENTS. 



Page 

Artman, H. T. & Son 41 

Baker, James R 12 

Baker, L. S., Agent 8 



Page 

Baker, R. W. & Co 61 

Baldwin, T. P., President 98 

Ballard & Smith 64 



CONTENTS. 



139 



Pase 

Baltimore Steam Packet Co 17 

Barton. Geo. L., Treasurer 10') 

Bevill, W. B.. G. P. ami F. Ag't, 9 

Blue Hidfje Springs G8 

Booker, J. E.. Editor and Pub.. 4U 
Bosley,W. H., Sec'y and Treas.. 91 

Bradshaw, Gum iV Co 21 

Prambleton Floral Co W) 

Brewer. R. L. & Son 82 

Briggs, Merritt 24 

Britt, Lee 24 

Brooks, Chauncev, President... 91 

lirown, Phil. F..; 68 

Camp, W. N., President lOo 

Carr, Sam'l D. & Co 36 

Causey & Jordan 88 

Causey, C. H 24 

Copeland. John R., President... 2o 
Cugle,Cliarles, Sec'y and Treas. 98 

Culpepper & Turner, Agents 16 

Darden & Eley 76 

Daughtrey & Hines 76 

Doggett, Rowland, Assoc't Prin. 20 

Dunn, S. R., Agent 89 

Eagle Brand Guano 77 

Eddv, Chas. G., Vice-Pres 9 

Elam, Mrs. R. S 87 

Eley. A. S 82 

Eley, Wm. tV Bro 61 | 

Exchange Hotel 82 | 

Farmers' Bank of Nansemond... 2.j 

Ferguson, W. B 82 

Finney. The Misses 52 1 

Fiske tV Purdie 78 

Fulgham A: Cohoon 60 

Gav Manufacturing Co., The lOo 1 

Hall iV Holt 29 I 

Harrell, D. C. & Co ..^ 61 I 

Hodgdon & Spencer Co., The... 81 1 

Holland, E. E 24 

Jones iV lirothcr 44 



Page 

Jones & Bro., Agents 16 

Jones, l^ain Sc Co 77 

Jones, Wm. H., Jr., Cashier 2o 

Kernodle, P. J., Principal 57 

Kilby, Wilbur J...... 48 

King. Joseph. Principal 20 

Llovd, M. F.. 28 

Merriatn, G. & C. & Co., Publ'rs 53 

Moscr, Geo. C 40 

Myers, L. T., Supt. Trans 8 

McAnge, W. N 110 

Nansemond River Line 64 

Nansemond Seminary 60 

Norfleet, N. G., Agent 64 

Norfolk & Western Railroad 9 

Nurney, (Jeorge W 38 

Nurney, J. V 56 

Nurney, J. T. & Co 56 

Old Dominion Steamship Co 16 

Parker & Harrell 88 

Percy, H. C, Treasurer 80 

Perry, J W. & Co., Agents 64 

Phillips, Dr. Ed. D 64 

Pinner, H. P 88 

PiniuM-, John B 48 

Pinner, .lohn F. and .John l> 76 

Pitt, Chas. F., Jr., Secretary.... 105 

Pope, A., Gen'l F'g't Ag't 9 

Prentis. Robert R 48 

Quimby, Mrs.*!.. H., Principal.. 60 

Rawles, Richard H 48 

Reynolds, lienj., Supt 80 

Riddick \- Ikker 28 

Riddick, E. S 82 

Seab()ar<l tV Roanoke Railroad.. 8 

Smith, 'i'liomas \V.. Supt 98 

Suffolk Brick Manuf'g Co 5») 

Suttolk & Carolina Railroad 91 

Suffolk Collegiate Listitute 57 

Suffolk Dispensary 64 

Suff'olk Frninle Institufc 52 



140 



CONTENTS. 



Page 

•• Suffolk Herald,"' The 49 

Suffolk Manufacturing Co 98 

Suffolk Military Academy 20 

Tatterson, E 40 

Tebo, L. M 88 

Thomas, L. W,, Agent 17 

Webb, Joseph P 72 



Page 

Webster's Unabr'g'd Dictionary 53 

Weidenfeld, Frank 37 

Whalev & Rider 65 

White; E. V. & Co.... 80 

Wood, Dr. W. D 64 

Wright, JohnH 60 

Wright, John H. & Son 60 



ANNOUNCEMENTS-CLASSIFIED. 



Pa^e 

AGRICULTURAL IMPLE- 
MENTS. 

Darden & Elev 76 

Eley. A. S....."' 32 

AGRICULTURAL LIME. 

Jones ct Brothei- 44 

ARCHITECT. 

Moser, George C 40 

ART GOODS. 
Carr, Sam"! D. & Co 36 

ATTORNEYS- AT- LA \V. 

Brio'gs, Merritt 24 

Britt, Lee 24 

Causev, C. H .•. 24 

Holland, E. E 24 

Kilby, Wilbur J 48 

Pinner, John B 48 

Prentis, Robert R 48 

Rawles, Richard H 48 

Wright, John H 60 

BANKERS. 
Farmers Bank of Nansemond.... 25 

BELTING. 
White, E. V. & Co 80 



Page 

BOOKBINDERS, &c. 

Fiske & Purdie 73 

BOOKSELLERS AND STA- 
TIONERS. 

Carr, Sam'l D. & Co 36 

Webb, Joseph P 72 

BOOTS AND SHOES. 

Baker, James R 12 

Ballard & Smith 64 

Causey & Jordan 88 

Darden & Eley 76 

Fulgham & Cohoon 60 

BOTTLER-BEER. 

Lloyd, M. F 28 

BRACKETS, MOULDINGS, &e. 

Bradshavv, Gum & Co 21 

Eley, A. S 32 

Parker & Harrell 88 

BRICK MANUFACTURERS. 

Harrell, D. C. & Co 61 

Suffolk Brick MTg Co., The 56 

Tatterson, E 40 

BROKER— MERCHANDISE. 
Ferguson, W. B 32 



CONTENTS. 



141 



BUILDERS & contractors"^ ; 

Tatterson, K 40 

Tebo, L. M 88 ' 

BUILDING MATERIALS. ' 

Dtndeii & Ele}- 76 

Eley, A. S 32 

Webb, Joseph P 72 

CARPETS, RUGS. &c. 

leaker. .James R 12 

Ballard & Smith 64 

Dardcn & Eley 76 

CARRIAGE MATERIALS. 
Artman H. T. & Sou 41 

CARRIAGES, WAGONS, &r. 
Artman, H, T. & Son 41 

CIGARS, TOBACCO, &c. 

DauLditrcv & Hines 76 

Lloyd, M". F 28 

Webb, Joseph P 72 

CLOTHING— READY MADE. 

Jiakcr, James R 12 

Causev & Jordan 88 

Darden & Eley 76 

COAL AND ICE. 

Jones & Brother 44 

'COTTON SPINNERS. 
Suffolk Manufacturing Co., The. 98 

CROCKERY, GLASSWARE, &c 

Riddiek &Baker 28 

DENTIST. 
Wood, W. D 64 

DICTIONARY. 
Webster's Unabrid<!od ').'] 



Page 
DRUGS, &C. 

Eley, A. S 32 

Phillips, Dr. Ed. D 64 

Webb, Joseph P 72 

DRY GOODS, &u. 

Baker, James R 12 

Ballard & Smith 64 

Causey & Jordan 88 

Darden & Elev 76 

Eley, Wm. &'Bro 61 

DYSPEPSIA WATER. 
Philip K. Brown 68 

FANCY GOODS. 

Carr, Sam'l D. & Co 36 

Webb, Joseph P 72 

FARM LANDS. 
Nurney, J. T 56 

FARM TOOLS, &c. 

Darden & Eley 76 

Eley, A. S 32 

FERTILIZERS. 

Eley, A. S 32 

Hodgdon k Spencer Co., The... 81 

Jones, Bain & Co 77 

Whaley & Rider 65 

FLORISTS. 
Branibleton Floral Co., The 80 

FURNISHING GOODS. 

Baker, James R 12 

Eley, Wm. & Bro 61 

Fulgham &Cohoon 60 

FURNITURE DEALERS. 

Baker, R. W. & Co 61 

Hall & H.dt 2\i 



142 



CONTENTS. 



Pag:e 

GINGER ALE, SODA, &g. 
Lloyd. M. F 28 

GROCERIES, &c. 

Daughtrey & Hines 76 

Ferguson', W. B 32 

Lloyd, M.F 28 

GROCERS' DRUGS. 
Webb, Joseph P 73 

GUANO— MANUFACTURERS 
Jones, Bain & Co 77 

HARDWARE, &c. 

Darden & Eley ^. 76 

Eley, A. S....' 32 

HARNESS, &o. 
Artman, H. T. & Son 41 

HATS AND CAPS. 

Baker, James R 12 

Ballard & Smith 64 

Causey & Jordan 88 

Darden & Eley 76 

Fulgham & Cohoon 60 

HAY, GRAIN, &c. 

Ferguson, W. B 32 

Jones k Brother 44 

Whaley& Rider 65 

HOTELS AND BOARDING 
HOUSES. 

Elam, Mrs. R. S... 37 

Exchange Hotel 32 

HOUSE FURNISHING GOODS, 
Riddick & Baker 28 

ICE AND COAL. 
Jones & Brother 44 



Page 

INSURANCE AGENTS. 

Dunn, S. R 89 

Wright, John H. & Son 60 

JEWELRY, SILVERWARE, &c. 

Brewer, R. L. & Son 32 

Weidenfeld, Frank 37 

JOB PRINTERS. 

Booker, J. E 49 

Fiske & Purdie 72 

KAINIT, CHEMICALS, &c.— 

IMPORTERS OF. 
Hodgdon & Spencer Co., The 81 

LIME— AGRICULTURAL. 

Jones & Brother... 44 

LIME, CEMENT & PLASTER. 

Eley, A. S 32 

LIQUORS, &c. 

Daughtrey & Hines 76 

Lloyd, M^ F 28 

LIVERY STABLES. 

Nurney, Geo. W 33 

Pinner, H. P 88 

LUMBER DEALERS AND - 
MANUFACTURERS. 

Bradshaw, Gum & Co 21 

Gay Manufacturing Co., The.. I.. 105 

MACHINISTS' AND BLACK- 
SMITH'S SUPPLIES. 

White, E. V. & Co 80 

MERCHANDISE BROKER. 

Ferguson, W. B 32 

MILLS— COTTON, 
Suffolk Manufacturing Co., The.. 98 



CONTENTS. 



143 



Page 
MILLS— PLANING. | 

Bradshaw, Gum & Co 21 j 

MILLS— SAW. j 

Gay Manufacturing Co.. The — 105 ■ 

MILL SUPPLIES , 

White, E. V. &Co 80 j 

NEWSPAPER. ! 

Suffolk Herald, The 4'.) j 

NOTARY PUBLIC. I 

Kilby, Wilbur J 48 | 

NOTIONS, &c. i 

Baker, James R 12' 

Ballard & Smith G4 | 

Causev & .lordan 88 ; 

Eley, Wm. & Bro 61 I 

OIL CLOTHS, MATTINGS, Ac. i 

Baker. James R 12 1 

Dardcn & Eley 76 I 

OILS— LUBRICATING, &c. \ 

Eley, A. S 32 ; 

Webb. Joseph P 72 ! 

White, E. V. &Co 80 

OPTICIAN. 
Weidenfeld. Frank 37 

OYSTER PACKERS. 

McAnge, W. N 110 

Nurney, J. T. & Co 56 

PAINTS, VARNISHES, &c. 

Eley, A. S 32 

Webb, Joseph P 72 

PERUVIAN GUANO— IM- 
PORTERS OF. 
Hodgdorrii Spencer Co., The... 81 1 



Page 

PHOTOGRAPHERS. 
Parker & Harrell 88 

PIANOS AND ORGANS. 
Carr, Sam'l D. & Co 3G 

PICTURE FRAMES, &c. 

Carr, Sam'l D. & Co 36 

Parker* Harrell 88 

PLANING MILLS. 
Bradshaw, Gum & Co 21 

PRINTERS-JOB, &c. 

Booker, J. E 49 

Fiske A Purdie 73 

PUBLISHERS. 

Booker, J. E 49 

Merriam, G. & C. & Co 53 

RAILROAD AND STEAMBOAT 

SUPPLIES. 
White, E. V. &Co 80 

RAILROAD CROSS-TIES. 
Jones A Brother 44 

RAILROADS. 

Norfolk & Western 9 

Seaboard & Roanoke 8 

Suttblk & Carolina 91 

READY-MADE CLOTHING. 

Baker, James R 12 

DardcM & Eley 76 

REAL ESTATE. 

Pinner, John F, & .fohn B 76 

Nurney, J. T 56 

ROOFING, Ac. 
Riddick k Baker 28 



144 



CONTENTS. 



Page 

ROPE— MANILLA, BOLT, &c. 
White, E. V. & Co.... 80 

SAW MILLS. 
The Gay Manufacturing Co 105 

SCHOOLS. 

Nansemond Seminary 60 

Suffolk Collegiate Institute 57 

Suff"olk Female Institute 52 

Suffolk Military Academy 20 

SCHOOL SUPPLIES. 

Carr, Sam'l D. & Co 36 

Webb, Joseph P 78 

STABLES— SALE & LIVERY. 

Nurney, George W 33 

Pinner, H. P 88 

STEAMSHIP & STEAMBOAT 
AGENTS. 

Culpeper & Turner 16 

Jones & Brother 16, 4-4 

Norfleet, N. G 64 

Perry, J. W. & Co 64 

Thomas, L. W 17 

STEi^MSHIP & STEAMBOAT 
LINES. 

Baltimore Steam Packet Co 17 

Nansemond River Line 64 

Old Dominion Steamship Co 16 

STORE FRONTS AND STAIR 

WORK. 
Bradshaw, Gum & Co 21 

STOVES AND TINWARE. 

Riddick & Baker 28 

SUMMER RESORTS. 
Blue Ridge Springs 68 



TEACHERS— SCHOOL. ^'^^'' 

Doggett, Rowland 20 

Finney, The Misses 52 

Kernodle, P. J 57 

King, Joseph 20 

Quimby, Mrs. L. H 60 

TOBACCO AND CIGARS. 

Daughtrey & Hines 76 

Exchange Hotel 32 

Llovd, M. F 28 

Webb, Joseph P 72 

UNDERTAKERS. 

Baker, R. W. & Co 61 

Hall & Holt 29 

WAGONS, BUGGIES, &r. 
Artraan, H. T. & Son 41 

WATCHES, CLOCKS, &c. 

Brewer, R, L. & Son 32 

Weldenfeld, Frank 37 

WATCHMAKERS. 
Weidenfeld, Fnmk 37 

WINDOW & DOOR FRAMES. 

Bradshaw, Gum & Co 21 

Eley, A. S 32 

Webb, Joseph P 72 

WINDOW-GLASS, PUTTY, &c. 

Elev, A. S 32 

Webb, Joseph P 72 

WINES AND LIQUORS. 

Daughtrey & Hines 76 

Lloyd, M. F 28 

YEARNS, W^ARPS, TWINES. 

Suff'olk Manufacturing Co., The.. 98 



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